Country: New Guinea
Administrative region: Papua (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 1.12959 S, 133.97629 E
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(iii)Site contains one or more highly restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened
IPA assessment rationale
There are 31 plant species which current data indicates are endemic to this area. The Arfak mountains are a largely intact primary montane rainforest ecosystem, and the rapid elevational change from sea level to over 1000 metres on the eastern side means that there is a gradation of vegetation types within a small area.
Site description
The Arfak mountains is a mountain range on the eastern side of the Bird's Head peninsula in north-west New Guinea which lies between Manokwari and the Anggi Lakes. The highest point is Mount Arfak at 2955 metres asl. On the eastern coast there is a rapid elevational change from sea level to over 1000 metres within about 10 km, which means that there is a gradation between different vegetation types within a relatively small area.
Botanical significance
There are 30 endemic plant species known only from the Arfak mountains, but the region is very under-surveyed due to difficulties of access. The area has become accessible by road only recently, with earlier botanical expeditions involving 2 to 4 days walk from the coast. Most collections have been made on the periphery of mountain range, particularly in the northern side where access is easiest from Manokwari.
Habitat and geology
The Arfak mountains are part of the Vogelkop montane rain forest ecoregion. There is a rapid elevation gain from the coast to high mountains on the eastern side of the range. The Montane forest habitats begin at around 800 to 1000 metres asl, and have forests dominated by Fagaceae, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae, which changes to Nothofagus forests with deep moss, and then Ericaceae-dominated shrubbery at higher elevations.
Conservation issues
The majority of the range is remote and inaccessible, with few roads, which means that there has been low levels of large-scale habitat disturbance such as logging or infrastructure development.
Site assessor(s)
Laura Jennings, Royal Botanic Garden Kew
Charlie Heatubun, The Provincial Government of West Papua and Universitas Papua
Jimmy Wanma, State University of Papua
Liam Trethowan, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
IPA criterion A species
| Species | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 1% of global population | ≥ 5% of national population | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Entire global population | Socio-economically important | Abundance at site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saurauia spinosa M.Briggs | A(iii) |  |
|
 |
|
|
Unknown |
| Marsdenia arfakensis P.I.Forst. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rhaphidophora pilosa P.C.Boyce | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Heptapleurum secundum (Philipson) G.M.Plunkett & Lowry | A(i), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Anaphalis arfakensis Mattf. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Papuasicyos arfakensis (W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes) H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Gymnosphaera phlebodes (Lehnert & Coritico) S.Y.Dong | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Sericolea arfakensis Gibbs | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rhododendron asperum J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rhododendron proliferum Sleumer | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Aeschynanthus microtrichus C.B.Clarke | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Endiandra arfakensis Kosterm. | A(i), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Seringia botak Cheek | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Musa arfakiana Argent | A(i), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Appendicula rostrata J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Bulbophyllum bigibbosum J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Bulbophyllum pristis J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Calanthe reflexilabris J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Ceratostylis arfakensis J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Corybas arfakensis Schltr. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dendrobium cuculliferum J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dendrobium cylindricum J.J.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Pseuderia amblyornidis (Rchb.f.) Ormerod | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Pteris bambusoides A.Gepp | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Myrmephytum arfakianum (Becc.) C.R.Huxley & Jebb | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Guioa amabilis Kaneh. & Hatus. | A(iii), A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rhysotoechia momiensis Kaneh. & Hatus. | A(i), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alpinia domatifera Valeton | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Riedelia arfakensis Valeton | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Saurauia spinosa M.Briggs
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Marsdenia arfakensis P.I.Forst.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Rhaphidophora pilosa P.C.Boyce
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Heptapleurum secundum (Philipson) G.M.Plunkett & Lowry
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i), A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Anaphalis arfakensis Mattf.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Papuasicyos arfakensis (W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes) H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Gymnosphaera phlebodes (Lehnert & Coritico) S.Y.Dong
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Sericolea arfakensis Gibbs
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Rhododendron asperum J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Rhododendron proliferum Sleumer
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Aeschynanthus microtrichus C.B.Clarke
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Endiandra arfakensis Kosterm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i), A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Seringia botak Cheek
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Musa arfakiana Argent
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i), A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Appendicula rostrata J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Bulbophyllum bigibbosum J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Bulbophyllum pristis J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Calanthe reflexilabris J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Ceratostylis arfakensis J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Corybas arfakensis Schltr.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Dendrobium cuculliferum J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Dendrobium cylindricum J.J.Sm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Pseuderia amblyornidis (Rchb.f.) Ormerod
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Pteris bambusoides A.Gepp
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Myrmephytum arfakianum (Becc.) C.R.Huxley & Jebb
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Guioa amabilis Kaneh. & Hatus.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii), A(iv)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Rhysotoechia momiensis Kaneh. & Hatus.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i), A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Alpinia domatifera Valeton
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Riedelia arfakensis Valeton
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | |
Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | |
Minor |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Nature conservation | |
Major |
Nature conservation
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arfak | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area overlaps with IPA | |
Arfak
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area overlaps with IPA
Areal overlap:
Recommended citation
Laura Jennings, Charlie Heatubun, Jimmy Wanma, Liam Trethowan (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Arfak Mountains (New Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/arfak-mountains/ (Accessed on 15/09/2024)