Waigeo

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

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?).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Intact forest ecosystems moderate sediment flow / erosion control into Maybrit Bay lagoon ecosystem and surrounding coral reefs.
Tourism, particularly for marine ecosystems and endemic birds.

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