Orchid expedition to one of the remotest conservation areas in the Bird’s Head of New Guinea

“This expedition has been nothing short of extraordinary, unveiling the splendor of over 210 species of native orchids, with 124 of them in full bloom!”

 

The orchid family holds a place of utmost importance on the species conservation priority list in West Papua, as designated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. To gather foundational data, our office collaborated with various stakeholders to meticulously document and photograph every native orchid species across the Bird’s Head region. Numerous areas, such as the Mts. South Tamrau Nature Reserve, remain dark spots in terms of orchid diversity data. Accessibility challenges, particularly in the southern and eastern slopes of Testega, have hindered management efforts in this reserve. Over the past decade, our rangers have ventured into these regions only twice, with this recent expedition marking the first botanical survey. Thus, the findings from this orchid exploration are of immense value for the conservation management of this area and will significantly contribute to the forthcoming book on orchid diversity in the Bird’s Head Peninsula.

From February 19 to March 10, 2024, an orchid expedition to Testega in the Mts. South Tamrau Nature Reserve was funded by the Scientific Exploration Society through the Elodie Sandford Explorer Award for Amateur Photography 2023. The team was comprised of six dedicated people that lead by Reza Saputra, a ranger who work in West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency and specialized on orchids taxonomy and who winning the award. In a span of three weeks, Reza and his team meticulously collected and documented over two hundred orchids and their habitats, with 124 specimens in bloom. Among the remarkable discoveries, there are several highlights’ findings worth mentioning:

• 26 species newly recorded for the Bird’s Head Peninsula.
• 12 species photographed for the first time ever.
• Rediscovery of 13 species that had not been seen for over half a century. Some of them are more than a century old, e.g., Crepidium productum, which has not been seen for 110 years.
• Discovery of nine suspected undescribed species.

The last important thing is the extensive and massive documentation have gathered. During our three-week expedition, we captured 1965 photographs and 569 video footages of orchids, their habitats, and some of our activities. This documentation will be invaluable for the Bird’s Head New Guinea project’s orchid book.

Reflecting on the journey, Reza remarked, “From the moment we set foot in Testega, our team was captivated. This untouched and pristine place, which orchids prefer, is the best place for orchids that I have explored.”

 

11 May 2024 (FK)