Country: New Guinea
Administrative region: Papua (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 0.20147 S, 130.94927 E
Area: 3155km²
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, A(iii)Site contains one or more highly restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened
IPA assessment rationale
Criterion A(i): globally threatened species Boea urvillei (VU), Dimorphanthera ovatifolia (VU), Rhodamnia waigeoensis (VU), Guioa waigeoensis (VU), Nepenthes danseri (VU), Wallaceodoxa raja-ampat (CR).
Criterion A(iii): there are 13 highly restricted endemic plant species found only on Waigeo island. unique ultrabasic shrubbery vegetation type, also limestone karst. Steep and isolated mountains with a compressed set of ecosystem types (cline?).
Site description
Waigeo is the largest island in the Raja Ampat archipelago, located off the north-west coast of New Guinea. The island is almost divided into two by Mayalibit Bay, with the eastern and western sides joined by a narrow isthmus in the north. The coastline is steep and the interior is rugged, although not high elevation apart from several isolated mountains on the eastern side, the best surveyed of which is Mount Nok. The marine environment is famous for being the most biologically diverse in the world for coral reef species.
Botanical significance
There are 13 plant species which current data indicates are endemic to Waigeo. Of those that have Red List assessments, Boea urvillei, Dimorphanthera ovatifolia, Rhodamnia waigeoensis and Guioa waigeoensis are assessed as Vulnerable and Alstonia beatricis is assessed as Data Deficient. The pitcher plant Nepenthes danseri occurs on Waigeo and Halmahera islands and is assessed as Vulnerable. The near-endemic palm Wallceodoxa raja-ampat has a preliminary assessment of Critically Endangered. There are three plants species only known from the small area of mossy montane forest on Mount Nok above 800 metres asl: Dimorphanthera ovatifolia, Rhododendron cornu-bovis and Dendrobium azureum.
Habitat and geology
Waigeo has at least nine vegetation types (Hamidi et al. 2017), of which the uncommon ones are the forests on ultrabasic and limestone substrates. Mayalibit Bay is a lagoon and mangrove ecosystem.
The higher elevation areas of Waigeo have compressed vegetation zones due to the Massenerhebung effect, with pseudomontane vegetation forming as low as 100 metres asl on hill tops (Widyatmoko 2010). The steep and isolated Mount Nok and Mount Danai has stunted mossy submontane forests above 800 metres asl, which is the only known habitat for several endemic species.
Ultrabasic shrubbery.
Conservation issues
Extensive NGO and community involvement in ecosystem management (White et al. 2022). There was low impact logging over most of the lowland forests, targeting Intsia spp. but Waigeo forests are otherwise little disturbed. Waigeo is a popular tourist destination, particularly for divers and birders, so there is demand for infrastructure development, notably a ring road (Hamidi et al. 2017). The surrounding marine environment is one of the most biodiverse in the world, and any disruption to the terrestrial ecosystems causing increased erosion or sediment flow would impact these ecosystems (Waigeo modelled as a case study by Rude et al. 2016). Lagoon and mangrove ecosystem of Mayalibit Bay is an important crustacean and fish breeding area. Endemic Waigeo brush turkey. Wilson's bird of paradise (NT), Red Bird of Paradise (NT) found on Waigeo. Traditional management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Ecosystem services
The intact forest ecosystems on Waigeo moderate sediment flow / erosion control into Maybrit Bay lagoon ecosystem and surrounding coral reefs. The island is popular for tourism, particularly for marine ecosystems and endemic birds.
Site assessor(s)
Laura Jennings, Royal Botanic Garden Kew
Liam Trethowan, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Charlie Heatubun, The Provincial Government of West Papua and Universitas Papua
Jimmy Wanma, State University of Papua
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rungia heterophylla Bremek. | A(iv) |  |
 |
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Alstonia beatricis Sidiy. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Common |
| Alyxia laurina Gaudich. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Dimorphanthera ovatifolia Sleumer | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rhododendron cornu-bovis Sleumer | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Boea urvillei C.B.Clarke | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rhodamnia waigeoensis N.Snow | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Dendrobium azureum Schuit. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Spathoglottis latifolia (Gaudich.) Garay & Ormerod | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Hydnophytum multituberosum Jebb & C.R.Huxley | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Guioa waigeoensis Welzen | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Plesioneuron royenii Holttum | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
Rungia heterophylla Bremek.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
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:
Unknown
Alstonia beatricis Sidiy.
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:
Common
Alyxia laurina Gaudich.
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
Dimorphanthera ovatifolia Sleumer
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 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 cornu-bovis 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
Boea urvillei C.B.Clarke
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Rhodamnia waigeoensis N.Snow
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Dendrobium azureum Schuit.
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
Spathoglottis latifolia (Gaudich.) Garay & 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:
Unknown
Hydnophytum multituberosum Jebb & C.R.Huxley
Qualifying sub-criterion:
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:
Unknown
Guioa waigeoensis Welzen
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Frequent
Plesioneuron royenii Holttum
Qualifying sub-criterion:
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:
Unknown
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | |
Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | |
Minor |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Nature conservation | 50 | Major |
Nature conservation
Percent coverage:
50
Importance:
Major
Protected areas
| Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waigeo Barat | National Nature Reserve | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | |
| Waigeo Timur | National Nature Reserve | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | |
Waigeo Barat
Protected area type:
National Nature Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
Waigeo Timur
Protected area type:
National Nature Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waigeo Barat | Key Biodiversity Area | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | |
| Waigeo Timur | Key Biodiversity Area | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | |
Waigeo Barat
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
Waigeo Timur
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
Bibliography
Plant Diversity and Composition in Mount Nok and the Waifoi Forest of the Waigeo Raja Ampat Islands: with Special Reference to The Threatened Species
Jurnal Biologi Indonesia, Vol 6(2), page(s) 195-209 Available online
Tree species composition of lowland hill forest on volcanic rock in Waigeo Island, Raja Ampat district, West Papua.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Tropical Plant Conservation and Utilization, page(s) 14-24 Available online
The bridging role of non-governmental organizations in the planning, adoption, and management of the marine protected area network in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Marine Policy, Vol 14, page(s) 105095
Recommended citation
Laura Jennings, Liam Trethowan, Charlie Heatubun, Jimmy Wanma (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Waigeo (New Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/waigeo/ (Accessed on 12/12/2024)