Table Of Content)
DOCUMENTATION
FLORISTIC IMPERATIVES:
SOME CONCLUSIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY
NEW
SURVEYS PAPUA GUINEA
IN
M.Golman
W.Takeuchi
Manager
itute of Texas (BRIT) Divisional
> t urn and Papua New Guinea Forest Authoi
PNG
iM an h Nation
Res< Institute
-
A
A
1 ae, Mi >iohe Province 41 P.O. Box 5055,
i >i<
1
NEW
PUA GUINEA National Capitol
Distrk
I
NEW
PAPUA GUINEA
[email protected]
[email protected].
pg
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OK
rOK IGO PAS (MI-I.AN1-SIAN PISIXJ
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it
i
ABSTRACT
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INTRODUCTION
Cum.
nhiln bn,n A w
In spite of its status j lt>l> di\< iln u u >n »n.i M<
,i
.
i i I
(PNG)has thedubiou being on most inadequately
lion o vlak
n of
li
i i
had
surveyed nations. Stevens (1989) defined the relatively well-collected areas
PNG
sqkm.
in as having a collections density of 50-] 00 specimens per 100 But
even by this easy measure, the well collected localities identitied h\ criterion
is
l"i
werepiimanh
conlim d to lew principal dtainag< and high mountains. Re-
t
shows background
cent analysis that the level of collection density averages
km
New
than 25 per 100 sq over Guinea whole (Conn
less as a 1994), a rate
minimal
substantially below the standard regarded bv Stevens as baseline.
a
Within the Malesian region, only the Celebes and Sumatra have comparably
low collection indices (Stevens 1989). Although Steenis (1950) had estimated
would document
thai >0 u ol coordinated ploration b requi red to the
\
(
New
Guinea flora, the rate of documentation has not improved since that as-
sessment was made, and has dramatical!) declined within the 30
in fact last
In* ii
ii land
l.i n f)
i I i I
|
U dew and G
are to id ind nu indigenon igcncii the pn ent trend
in pit
i
in documentation must be reversed. The urgency for corrective action espe-
is
when
cially acute the target country represents biodwersity hotspot within
a
which and economic changes expected
social are to intensify.
Papua New Guineas population gtowth rate of Go now one oi the high-
2. is
From number
est in the Pacific region. a present base oi 4.7 a million, the of
m
people isexpect Itodoubl by 20 Kliiiinou o The demographic
><>
G, l
I i 1
84%
projections are especially consequential because an estimated of the popu-
Inioiii rural, and all ueli househohl are dependent to nine degree on slash
and burn agriculture (ibid). Currently, an estimated 200,000 hectares of land
annually from which 20,000-30,000
are cleared subsistence, hectares rep-
for
resent natural growth lorcst permanently removed by various clear eui opera
nous
including industrial logging (Filer 1995).
human
With
the anticipated increases; in population, subsistence activi-
mimic
ties are expected to progressively the Gets forest clear-felling as
ol fal-
el
When PNG
low cycles are accelerated ([.ouman Nicholls 1995). enters the
eGr
now
leep pai popul rowth curve serious environmental
oi flu pi
iiei
i I
im pacts are likely to occur I'he re are already mounting id ications of impend-
1 1
G
pun
ing failure in the subsistence tern everal metal areas due to intensi-
,\
&
cropping
fication of rotations (Levett Bala 1995).
&
PNG 70G
At present, retains primary forest cover (Me Alpine
sttfl ol its
Quigley 1998) and one of only four tropical countries with extensive tracts of
is
original vegetation tSuzuki 199 This remarkable state of preservation has
3
J.
unfortunately complacency unong by encour-
d olessionals
lostei ciei pi
i i
aging an expectation that current inadequacies docunu utatuon ran alvavs
n
l
be reversed by future action. The underlying assumptions are not likely to pcr-
The poor documentation maim and mani-
slate significant
ol lot istic lias
I
m
est ar ions Papuastan botany disproporl innate number oi taxa are known
\
I
from and economic knowledge
single col lections, even family level often
at is
t
G
highly superficial (Johns 199 Virtually nothing can be said the basic biology
oi'
and many
populational variation for of the most important Papuasian plant
groups (Stevens 19H9 While genu no led that certain mountainous
ii II
Km
nn nnpo non
areasarehotspotskii o lou
in -nil in ibK ul< u K
ii \ \
i ( i i
Some
centers with the scant v data at hand. consequences ol the past emphasis
m
on high elevation exploration can ,een recent trom he >cnin
b< in nil
I
Conservancy's lowland m\i\ol Joseph mi u n 9 were newly de-
pi ics
Ii
i
,
highway Madang
from
scribed accessibK n u rh prin tin tional in
i|
i
Province (Huynh 2000; Takeuchi 2000a, 2001). Lowland environments are pre-
ferred venues for economic development, so there considerable potential for
is
nu documentation
floristic losses in tin oik ont inn, d n In ol l>, in
<
, 1 1
in
m
m me
on im
low aid howi ha\< viae qui ui\ intensification of
io
si
• < i i
I i
PNCs
commercial S0°
logging, considering that over ol loggable forests (as
o
&
defined by industr) tandatch arc in o land n n Nicholls 1995).
In
i I i i i i
ilsomou
Of the forest blocks ui<ntl\upt< uiinp nu n h mt ml h7"
ibl
m
i
i
mmedium-crowncd (om
lowlsnd
lull low st n l'ai|in in 1" oi\
i.
,
i . i
Hm
d
on Hamtnermasto- Saunders 1995) fetation type which probably
is
v.
i
Papuasias on formation (Louman 995
richest dudioll
in
Id
i 1 J
several competent crvci h veenumei d ho of particular value
lo<
>l
l
PNG
and urgency exploratory survey within (Johns 1993; Steems 1950;
for
A common
Stevens 1989). thread extending through these recommendations
all
that the exploration status of highlighted areas has hardly improved since
is
thetimeof theSteeni commentary v'ery little hn changed with respect to the
and The
quantity quality of botanical data over he past several decades. lack
I
of substantive prog n adversely affect taxonoirnc andecological a .merits
,
and ultimately impedes sustainable management end development within the
AND
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
m
PNG, any
In activity requiring access to natural resources ust include consid-
eration ol tin trai mil ncl n nun tern \n tun u d 97' ml diet oiutl
I; \
< i
;
under customary o\\net hip ubject to complex tern of usage rights and
is
s
social relationship win n n hemselves snpcrim posed over a multitude of
l
cultural-linguistic traditions (Crocombe 1974; Holzknecht 1995). Alienated land
and properties otherwisi rnulrr governmental contro Id ion
u irtn
i
ml
ohndu
n
Irrespectne In.m d ibn
ent. n u in
il
i i , > i I i
land-use issues are the viLlage clans and landowners specific forest blocks
ol'
the 'papa graun').
(i.e.,
many
Because so prerogatives reside with local villagers, direct negotiations
mandatory
with the customary lenanls for aim/ scientific program. This
tire is
mo
m
oeasibdoui Due
not hi tigation incipjl u o\ seas-based.
n s pi et
many
advocacy groups with environmentalist agendas,
the proliferation
to
ol
become
landowners have also conditioned to regard extract nils
ct
iti
i
i i
land (particularly by loreigneis; with considerable suspicion. This situation
applies especial ly to bioprospecting. Survey opcratorsdo well to avoid prospec-
tive collecting altogether, because o\ object ions hai have been raised in relation
i
Any
such contemplated would
to activities. project be required to explain its
loan and uninformed Having
aci vii ies oil eniii in keptical audience. a func-
i
m
nib M hn
now mi
tional ledge of rh
lin rn rol pi in) is
! il.
( i i i
A consequence primacy custom
significant of he of rv rights Papuasia
a in
l
Western mechanisins and
that certain lor pei mit issuance resource access are
is
m
PNl exampk
culturally utele\ m.t I'hci loi in rich n [iiirementa "plant
i
i i
collecting permit.' Hven such permits were established by government agen-
if
cies, they could never be enforced at he local level where botanical collecting
i
actually occurs. Onlv the customary landowners can grant approval removal
for
much
of materials from their territory. Paradoxically, while this eliminates of
management
the bureaucracy characteristic of Eurocentric systems, survey
operations are en rendered more complicated and unpredictable, because the
oft
whims
activities are entirely subject to the individual landowners.
o\
m<
Modern commentatoi have been unanui u pi ing a need for de-
veloping local capacity as a prerequisite for longterm assessment and manage
ment Conn Hamas
PNG's
of biodiversity (Beehler 1993: 1994; 1998;Johns 1993;
&
PNG
Sekhran
Miller 1995). Public sector agencies in are subject to unpredictable
changes in government support due tosfults in political direction. Based on pre-
commitments
vious trends, it is vci v unlikely that vital to science capacity
building will occur through in-country funding, ollaborativc studies are
a
t
means when
improving
potentially effective lor internal capabilities appropriate
engaged Programs which
agencies are as partners in research. provide for partici-
make
pation of qualified counterpart scan longterm con but ions to bioinventory,
tri
but the partnerships must be careful selected and not merely convenient.
\
I
The
PNC. infrastructure science hasexpei lenccd prolound changes over
in
me md
w;u olom
he last thirty Mil tin adnurii [ration ioi bi icl turn iln
il
I I < t i
many
wards, of the functionsassociated witfi florist survey were centrally invested
ic
in highly capable units such as .ae Herbarium .A : and the former Department
(J .)
1 l
Government and monopo-
of Forests. facilities in the 1960s early 70s virtually
PNG. nongovernment
lized plant exploration within contrast, organizations
In
(NGOs)
were conspicuous by their overall absence Irotn activities involving
botanical documental ion. lowever ai lei PNC became a sovereign state, the capa-
I 1
bilitn ol national agencii lor Ion work progn aveb. declined as budgets
i i
Conn
were subjected reordering The
to a political oi priorities (cl 1994). earlier
.
priorities are unlikely to be restored in the future because institutional and social
now
realities have been so completely transformed. Por example, there are no
PNG
Ph.D.-level professionals the National Forest Service, and currently only
in
one M.Sc recipient seiwing with the national herbarium.
is
Tosomcextcntjln magen haw
trend capabilities been mitii w thin
e
y iterl
dew lopmentsm nongovernmental
the last 10 years b\ countervailing the sector.
A
seminal event was the Conservation Needs Assessment (.CNA, Beehler 1993),
the first country wicl plan to define npreh nsiv< priorities for conservation
c<
CNA
and research action. The stimulated establishment of a multitude of Wildlife
w
M Wandcl
A
Management on
ica si -01 d pwj. b d the Integrated
iai
,\ .1
. i
&
Conservation and Development (ICAD) model Saulei Ellis 1998). Not co-
(cf.
CNA
many ncomp
incidentally, ol post initiaiiv< at least in part, the
tl
CNA. number
areas prioritized by the Together with these developments, a of
NGO
VvM
entities have assumed effective jurisdiction over the As and their land-
Mam
owner groups PNCTs prime wildi environments are presently
of iu
included under NGt Main em< in i| iin hi In total biodiversity
\t
•
I
i
represented by such partnership iantiale\ n chough the arrange-
r\ ul
\
i
G
ments collectively comprise on 'i 1 the P land area. In addition, a
rf
!
I
large backlog ol sites is under consideration lor lul are conservation action.
PNG
The combined
effect of these events that the hierarchy of science-
is
new
related administration has been transformed by the creation a infra-
ol
uciure Hue to the lative n n< ol the in w ai rang* merits, there has been
si r< \
i « <
m
Howew
hlil eh in h w biof in u mdi ceclii n ii\
i\ ic il \
< i I i ( . i
NGOs
allthe WMA-related maintain a fulltiine presence within their respective
wards, so the opportunity lor a< hie wing el lei ivi coi irnumtx integration with
WMA
now The
surveys are very promising. typically incl d id nt -coord
i i
nators and protocol s lor rn a a ng con tin uous a son with andowner groups,
i i 1 1 i 1 1 i 1 i i 1
functions the government interests can no longei provide in the remote
critical
i
NGO/WMA
From
an each combinations
areas. operational perspective, of the
the equivalent research elements multilateral surveys
of a lacilit) h< loi
is
I
combining professional and village participants are thus in place, requiring only
common A
components drawn under
that the individual be together a plan.
future schedule comprehensive Inoinwmioines could be eo istructed using
for
government planning instruments on one hand and community
the level
WMA/NGOs
implementors composed on Linkages
of the other. of this sort are
contemplated
already the basis several operations.
for
PARATAXONOM1ST liNHANCHMENT OF SURVEYS
m
docum
The numbers and
sheer involved ion inventory are
ol jk u in
i
m
overwhelming when ppi.M and
a In d in n ti ulri »'t \ es collection
> L ] < 1 1
|
curation. Time honored traditions in tropical exploration are no longer adequate
A
and approach
to the tasks of acquiring analyzing large collection sets. revised
documentation and perhaps adapted from
clearly required, best
to floristic is is
the experiences of entomologists faced with problems similar to those in bo-
th rough refinement comparable methodologies developed by INBio
of first
PNG
Parataxonomy
in Costa Rica (Janzen et 1993), based researchers at the
al.
demands
Training Center tPTC) have devised practical solutions to the time
presented by intensive sampling rich tropical habitats (Basset 2000;
in et
al.
Novotip el al ITT i.l hcirapproaeh has been terrain local vil lagers (as parataxono-
m
specimen idem and
ni^lsi he liuulainentalsol col lectin;;, sorting, ical ion.
if
i i
compLttei l.i .d.l n nanaia neni he lew international professionals are pri-
i I
marily engaged and
as instructors, quality control agents, ultimately as data
interpreters. By ionising the intervention individuals to the points where
oi
their expertise most eltective, the research process thus streamlined and
is is
The immediate arrangements
accelerated. product these extensive
[hat
of
is
haw
specimen been acquired and processed within time frames would
sets that
The
ordinarily require prohibitive inputs. demonstrated success such orga-
oi
inentomolog\ shows work
nization b\ itsell that the protocols can for botany.
Insects after exceed the floristic diversity bv several orders of magnitude.
all,
Asan
example enhancements new
of the offered by the procedures, within
PTC haw
a period of 5 years the studies in insect herbivon collected, sorted,
mid mounted over 100.000 specimens chewingand sap sucking
insects
oi leal
representing ca. 1,300 species (cf. Basset et al. 2000: Novotny et al. 1997). Such
convem
outputs considerably exceed those obtained bv without
lonal efforts
parataxonomist assistance. Over 40 scholarly papers have been published by
the research team, stark contrast the normal downtime between study
in to
To
and
inception publication usually years) the kind eco-entomological
lor ol
t
PTC
inquiry being undertaken by researchers (krwtn These improve-
0)9.0.
ments
parataxonomists
are a direct result ol the use oi in time-intensive ac-
tions such as collecting and sorting, allowing other participants optimize
to
own
on With marked
their activities cost-effective schedules. the increases in
new haw
sampling emerged which
outputs, insights could only have arisen
now new
from statistically large datascts, such as arc being generated by the
protocols he PI ampling piogram ha led to a reevalual ion insect plain
ol
'.
I
ompo
relationships, with wide ranging implications understanding he
lor
t i
nentsol invertebrate eliwrsilx in tropical systems (Basset 2000; Novotny
et al.
100/ an analogous manner, quant boosted surveys
ei al. In Hal ivcl\ floristic
i.
haw
the promise spawning comparable adwnces our knowledge the
oi in of
taxonomy and
ecology the Papttasian Malesian flora. This isespecially likely
o\'
when
sampling and
the existing co\'erage for plants so erratic sparse.
is
A PTC
significant factor in the success of the operation the fact that instruc-
is
m
me
and combined
tors students share hi residence laboratory dormitory
ful a
complex while pursuing con in ion research object iws. Continuous interactions
between mentor-trainers ami parataxonomists and
instill a sense of fraternity
purpose which not easily replicated by conventional piopcm. even though
is
may PTC
otherwise mimic program and
the latter superficially the structure
objectives. Preservation o\ the social relationships will be crucial to effective
translerance of the parataxonomist concept to floristic survey. Similar patterns
for success were previously pioneered the Chnstensen Research Institute
.it
(Orsak and more lopment
1993) recentlx h\ tin illage Devi Trust. Botanical
\
planners should note the methodological paradigms, particularly the conditions
contributing uion survey
to their effectiveness a rh< nipln lor floristic are
both timely and considerable.
A
point worth repeating that the parataxonomist concept has been thus
is
apph.-( nn u entomologist noiiini botanical profession
fit pi il\ bN In
\
I i I t
nany
has been slow to recogni c that pi >blem ol hi lo u al sampling in the
cm
and
tropics are universal, applicability ol ucc< fultechniqu' likely to
i
icro disciplinary line; pecially with traditional cultures such as PNG, folk
I
knowledge of plants olten more extensive than the corresponding base
for
is
insects (Basset [000) so plants are actualh appropriate subjects
et al vei lor
\
parataxonomist (Novotny comm.j.
-assisted investigation pers.
comprehensive paralaxonomo program templed within PNG,
n
II it
complementary improvements with
will be required the associated
in laci lities
documentation. Development
biological of local capacitii o
lloristii in
\
unlikely to achieve lasting results the physical security of collections (and ot her
is if
survey products such as databases) cannot be assured inside the host country.
This can be problem developing where funding
a in societies priorities for sci-
ence are generally low. A permanent instil ulional base will also be needed, and
best achieved through the development organ ions specifically devoted
is oi ir.at
parataxonom rather than by placing parataxonom preexisting herbaria
to in
ists
v,
government With domain,
or institutions. scientific facilities in he public there
t
be an adimui Ja\ ok mnal over individuals
is likely to u u in taft
i I
|
without formal credentials. The continuity parataxonomisis such etna
ol in
PTC
ronments would be less secure than in a mission-specilic unit such as
Steemss estimate hO year cycle coordinated exploration opera-
of a oi is
how
tionally impossible. reliance on outdated concepts nich inventories
In its of
should be achieved, u also incompatible with the social realities of contem-
is
m
porary Papuasia Muud) nhl K upj mil nd.d
Miii. in lo mi
)f
I i ' i i i
imuu
programs dclem mining
of d n hi iiun h,iw factors devolve
\
i
I
upon number whether
exclusively a mall of highly trained pi oh uonals, in-
made
digenous or foreign, cloubtlul that real progress will be toward the
is
it
goals implicit in torn pwln n urw\ <> n u nt expansion of the
in |\
-^
| i ' i i i i i <
workforce, like that afforded by parataxonom will the inventory process be
y.
encompass withm o Method-
able to he diversit\ Papuasian ion osystcms.
;i
I
cm
which improve ony umeutation
ologies rates lstu do< are especially
ol loi
I
urgent in view of the habilai destruction winch has occurred Malesia since
in
time van Steems Kiew
the of inter alios 1990).
(cf.
composed
Future surveys should include teams purpose-trained
oi
parataxonomists. Participation by landowners will also permit outputs to be
m
mg
amplified across the board, result survey yields substantially higher than
com
convent ions. expeditions \ collateral ad van tag< ol in unit)' involvement
1
the associated opport unity integral me, rada ional nowledge systems into
lor k
is
t
the collections documentation. Hthnobotanicul inquire can be easily assimi-
m
when
mini mi
lated local an; en; igcd surve)
mi
Although documentation
there is clearly a general failure ol lloristic in
way
Papuasia, attention has been explicit devoted to the field operations
little y
I
are actually conducted. Yet that should be the logical starting point in any analy-
how
because collections are acquired and the limitations associated with
sis,
which any
their acquisition, cannot help but affect everything else lollows. In
such examination, probably the most obvious limiting factor which would
emerge the mel iveness existing collecting methods.
is feet ol
PNd
was
In die early days ol the borcst Service, nl le lire ol ten used to bring
down
branches rom Nowada)'s, country where high-
Icrtile the eanop\'. in a
I
powered firearms require special permits, this no longei a viable option for a
is
number of reasons., not which being that possession such weapons
Iciest ol ol
would
attract undesirable attention to the collecting, teams. In order to obtain
specimens from high canopies, local climbers are hus employed nearly
i^n all
i
surve\ Selected reesarcalso requent cut down. Both mefhodsare very time
s. l\
l I
consuming however, and not unusual for a single collection obtained by
is
it
means
such to take a hall hour or even longer. Other procedures using sling
shots, extensible poles, wire saw etc. are use! ul only in certain situations, and
s,
amount
can
also require a substantial practice before the field assistants
o\'
achieve neisonablc
prol iciencv.
The
search suitable gatherings often length)' Especially
for just in itself.
is
mature grow where biomass and
in th. the forest collection targets are located
far above the ground, few taxa will be within easy reach. rider prevailing con-
I
ditions, a collector with several assistants can expect to obtain an average of
montane
only 30 taxa per Oailv tend be higher regrowth and
day. rallies to in
vegetation because of their lower statures, but general botanist will not take
1\ a
men
di n )0nurnbei evi un.ik lavo idle cu cumstance^ Vld to these con-
i
uonments
siderations the fact that colleetois in logistical! v difficult cn\ are
buulened and
olten In institutional quotas lor multiple duplicates the time,
demands
cost are increased even further.
diverted the preparation duplicate samples detract from the
Id forts to ol
documentation process, international herbaria with significant traditions
'he
!
Papuasian botany are lew number, so a point dim mid nng returns quickly
in in oi is
when numerous
reached distributing specimens. lections con of du-
ol si si rig
(.
i
plicates are very inefficient in terms of the costs in obtaining those duplicates.
Flonstic inventor)' better seined, by securing small sets duplicates) of dif-
is
]
t
many
numbers numbers
ferent conspecifie rathei than by obtainingsingle with
On
duplicates. the former procedure population variation can be effectively
assessed, while the latter procedure contributes
little.
The
reasons for the inadequate documentation of the Papuasian flora can
be entirely understood at the most immediate and basic operational that
level:
how much
of the individual collector laboring in the bush. Nomattei individual
effort is expended, the per capita outputs are not going to increase to an extent
necessary to reverse the current trends in botanical inventory. Since personal
omm
m
yields are not amenable lo |;hi\< in rh n in inin
ii ii ill t,
< <
i
pand Themost aland means
the workforce. pi < in o lb reali of achieving
•
i
through
this in traditional societies the application of parataxonomists.
is
An
un
okonrempoiai
unfortunate isthatparataxonomy-assisted
fact
\
;.
mm
m an
themschew when
outputs Even
in u d nb| survey
hi, In d,
ill
r \ r -,
,
mam
Jim
collections attain respec ml solum, suffered from the
>f 101 e
-1
,>. .1 1
umw
myopic
attitude that the botaim with, aie an end in themselves.
al
Oftentimes there has been no attempt todi rninai finding 01 even to assemble
any lorn II, onn
the results into kind ibh on d con n
l ti
> 1 1
I
ization of resource manage merit within du sin veyedarea which in practical
;,
terms probably the most important downstream product from biosurveys.
is
m
m
Perhaps die best example of rh, preceding
eii
< » 1 I
\
No
current developments in the April-Salumei region of Ismi Scpik Province.
other Papuasia such
classical locality in of critical historical-biotic value,
is
m
owing to the fact that ncarh o Ledermamn interio h ih Is If
ill
1
Kaiserin-Augusta (Sepik) Expedition within n etui Veldkani] era
this
fall
I
1988). Although key localities in the Hunstem Range were revisited by CSIRO
botanists Hoogland and raven and by a National Geographic sponsored
in 966,
(
1
me
contingent 198Q them no compilation urvivirm horn
in pec
is si ill oi tlu-
11
i
now nm
mostly-destroyed d, im fi nor any published run pendi urn from
1
the subsequent llunstein expeditions. In the ineantiuK eon ignificaui
1 oi
discoveries have been recognised from the newer survc\ including species
-•
(Huynh
of Freycinetia from he h\",0 expedition alone 1999). The recovery of
1
known
the endemic genus Scpikva, formerly only from an
illustration in
m
Pm
<omin)
Schlechter has occurred
(1923), also in e< \< a J! \v
1 ( I 1 1
m nm
h clevt lopm hhik n d In nun pi u bu di o\, tn
'
I 1 1 < 1
which an government
are reported in technical journals are in essible to agencies
or are d iscussed on wit h n a small circle of botanical collaborators. The April-
y
I 1
Salumei tract currently a focal point of contention between conservation
is
md
H
landowner, logging miningirit Bukl k Piler&Sekhranl998),
icstsCcf.
now
and a variety of future land uses under planning consideration. The
is re-
sults of uninformed action in a locality with such unique biotic and scientific-
historical values are potentially devastating.
is thus an imperative dice iiai: ingmec h misms Ix erected lor ensuring
It
that surveys connect directly with the agencies responsible priority-setting
for
in wilderness territories. net suilieient tocstabhsh links between universities,
is
It
NGOs
herbaria, or with community-level jurisdictions over survey These
sites.
entities do not possess! statutory powers lor determining policies and priorities
lie
the resource operations forestry and mining) winch have the greatest
in
Uve,..
impacts on environment. Without mputstothe planning
potential the
critical
may
government, surveys end up mere information-gathering
facilities in as
minimum,
from which subsequently At
exercises habitats disappear. a floristic
inventories should be consciously directed the Forest Planning
to
PNG
Division of the Porcst Authority, and iodic Nature Conservation Division
o( the Office P.nvironment and onsei \ation.
of
t
COMMUNITY AND
THE RELATIONSHIP TO FLORISTIC PATTERNS
many
amount
in the last decade, a substantial of data has been acquired from
PNOsloiesi environments. he greater work has been conducted
part this
of
o.l
'I
on
on k ili. in ,pk 01 ,i i o|'k ralint u iilnn tin n u pecti\ s \ ion ai as
' it
i i i I < i
A
many
discouraging aspect of such studies that they are either never
for-
is
m
id
mally published hi hnutid teadershipand
01 In pp n n
\\
i!
t <
i i i i
di itibutton In tin lollowingdiscu sion. several di tinct but interrelated issues
m
some drawing upon which
are considered, eases data arc available locally,
but not readily accessible to wider sc lent community. The commentary
lie ie
if
1
addresses selected topics in L) morphospecies enumeration. 2) floristic rich-
ness on environmental gradients, and the lonslup between collections
3) relat
Herbarium
timber concessional
in l.ae to activity.
—
Morphospecies enumeration. Although the sice lora con-
1) of lis is ol
t
number
leconsensuson
siderable general interest, there the of plant species
is lit!
Good
within Papuasia (cf. Collins et al, 1991; Prodi n 984; I960; Hoft 1992; Johns
1
1993; Womersley 1978). The only sure way of gauging the total floristic inven-
PNG many
through
tory for systematic revision, but will be generations
is
it
before a Flora Mu/e.simm-style compilation can be concluded (Geesink 1990).
In spite of such concerns, the locality specific inventories are the most
Minor! ni Din lor planning purposi While flora wide summaries may be of
broad conceptual interest, they do not provide sort information which
lie of is
l
Management and
relevant operational lewis. ions arc vpieally evaluated
at act
t
md em
implemented pectfn localitu th n detailed information on
lot
;
main
the floristic profiles individual tracts, liven plant families will re-
of
if
main unreviscd ihrough the foreseeable future. he enumerai ion Papuasian
ol
1
mot phospeciesand thedetei initial ion ol heir spa! ial disiri but ions is an achiev-
l
Knowledge components
able objective. of the local diversity a ba-
ol mi istie is
i I
and
sis tor rationalic d priori p citing, decision in akin u In le\el of ag,enc\
i
And which
implementation. ultimately the conservation local diversity
it is ol
hough
the Inundation future or inquiry even larger regional
lor tin:
is si ie
i I i t
knowledge
patterns provide the basis for placing the local in context.
