West Papua has a variety of plants that are rarely found in other places and areas. Some of the plants that are commonly found in Papua are trees and wild plants that grow in the forests in Papua.
Even though it has a lot of plants and plants that can function for the body, Papua still preserves and maintains the integrity of nature which is still beautiful. A study states that Papua has more plant species than any other island in the World.
Papua Island is the largest tropical island in the world and the second-largest island in the world after Greenland. Due to the geological process of its formation, Papua has a unique biodiversity that is very rich and diverse.
The researchers identified 13,634 species that grow on the island of Papua and almost 2,000 times more than on the island of Madagascar. Researchers say that the creation of species lists is important to protect against threats.
The biodiversity and culture on the island of West Papua have inspired many scientists. This island is located halfway between the mainland of Asia, Australia, and the continents of the Oceania Ocean and rises to a height of more than 4,000 meters.
With such an extraordinary landscape, it is no wonder that researchers confirm Papua as the richest island with plant biodiversity on earth. The island with the second most vegetation on the planet.
West Papua Plant Development Toward Modern Globalization
With the biodiversity and the many species that exist on this island, of course, there is an ironic thing experienced by the native Papuans. Overall, the human population on the island belongs to the poorest category in the world.
However, they can still survive by relying on biological wealth and abundant natural resources. With so much biodiversity that can be found here, researchers call Papua a natural laboratory for experts.
Papua is one of the last spearheads of biodiversity. One of the last areas where researchers are getting the chance to get involved in studying for the preservation of what is important to biological life.
While Papua still has some of the most intact blocks of primary forest in the tropics, in recent decades, forest loss on the island has increased. The surge in deforestation increased by more than 11,500 square kilometers of primary forest.
However, this seems to contradict the fact that the island of West Papua has been inhabited for at least 50 thousand years. However, the rate of land change on this island cannot be compared to what is happening now when the industry is starting to enter.
Even so, the Papuan people and the government must collaborate on an ongoing basis to help develop infrastructure and preserve the flora on this island. If there is no cooperation, then the plants will start to become extinct and run out.
Plants in Papua are Threatened by Geographical Isolation
Despite the effects of damage by human factors, the island of Papua remains an unrivaled natural laboratory of botanical evolution and endemism. Researchers found 68% of the island’s plants that are not found anywhere else.
However, some plants that live on the island of West Papua are threatened by geographical isolation, diversity, and endemism. This is because in some cases certain plant species can only be found in a certain area or habitat.
Not to mention the clearing of areas that can damage plant species due to massive forest destruction. Thus, some plants that can only live on the island of Papua are threatened with extinction and cannot be preserved.
Fragmentation or fragmentation of forests can have serious impacts on plant diversity. The effect that fragmentation will have on plant communities is different for fauna. Researchers must find out how fragmentation affects plants.
The Types of Plants that Live on the Island of Papua
Some types of plants that only live in the Papua area are plants that cannot live anywhere. In addition, the plants that exist on the island of Papua are due to geographical formation factors.
• Papuan Black Orchid
The West Papua black orchid is the most famous and often seen by people in general. This black orchid is one of the most common types of orchids in Kalimantan and Papua. People can culturise this plant in house,
• Red fruit
Another famous Papuan plant is a red fruit. This plant can also be found in the Papua New Guinea and known as Marita. The red fruit grows wrapped in the skin in the form of thick green leaves.
• Anthill
The floral one is a type of plant that grows attached to other plants. You can only find ant nests on tree trunks or branches in the Papua region. This ant nest plant has a brown color and has spines and leaves that are quite wide
The flora found on the island of Papua is indeed diverse, but we must preserve this wealth so that Papua remains a natural laboratory. Preserving the environment is the obligation of all Indonesian people, especially West Papua.
