Rainbow Warrior arrives at Papua

Thursday 16 March 2006

Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship, has arrived at the Indonesian province of Papua this week as part of a global campaign to combat illegal deforestation. The region’s ‘Paradise Forests’ are the last remaining ancient forests in Asia Pacific, because of widespread destructive logging practices. Under the campaign, Greenpeace is launching an eco-forestry program to demonstrate the alternatives for authorities and help promote sustainable techniques.

A recent scientific expedition by Conservation International in Papua’s Foja Mountains uncovered a pristine ‘Garden of Eden’, untouched by man, that contained a host of previously undiscovered species including birds, frogs, butterflies and plants – highlighting the extreme importance of preserving the ancient forests.

"The Paradise Forests of Asia Pacific are brimming with unimaginable diversity of life," commented Emmy Hafild, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. "But these forests and the life they support are being destroyed faster than any other on Earth, driven by demand for timber in Europe, US, Japan and China."

Dr. Jatna Supriatna, Director of Conservation International Indonesia, added; "Our discovery of new species underlined the importance of saving the pristine forests of Papua. Possibilities are high that we will find more new species in the area. These forests, however, are under threat from large-scale destruction before we may fully know what kind of flora and fauna live in them."

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