Last year, an Oxford University team along with researchers of various nationalities discovered the Attenborough Long-Beaked Echidna in Papua’s Cyclops Mountain Nature Reserve. The mammal was previously thought to be extinct in 1971.
The discovery solves one of many mysteries in the Cyclops Mountains. Since long ago, this nature reserve has stored much natural wealth and biodiversity. A study 20 years ago once revealed the natural potential in the Cyclops Mountains.
The Cyclops Mountains are located on the north coast of Jayapura City bordering Sentani District. It is 36 kilometers long with an area of 22,500 hectares and stretches from east to west. The highest peak of this mountain range is called Mount Merahriboh, with an elevation of 3,200 meters above sea level and forms an erosion slope with an average slope of 25 degrees.
Many mountains loom over the Cyclops Mountains. Some of the highest include: Mount Dafonsoro (1,580 MASL), Mount Butefon (1,450 MASL), Mount Robhong (1,970 MASL), Mount Helufoi (1,960 MASL), Mount Rafeni (1,700 MASL), and Mount Adumama (1,560 MASL). Below the slopes of the mountains, there is Lake Sentani which holds 30 types of freshwater fish species, including endemic species of sawsharks.
Roughly 20 years ago, researchers discovered much natural potential in the area. A team of researchers from the Center for Biological Research of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences studied the potential of florae in the Cyclops Mountains Nature Reserve on June 1-21, 2004. They traced two locations bordering Sereh Village, Sentani District, and Bamber Traditional Village, Waibu District. Both locations are located at an altitude of 150-400 MASL.
The Cyclops Mountains are rich in plant species. The team collected 150 species of plants from 63 tribes. The results showed that the mountains contain many florae that are highly beneficial as well as valuable.
The area is also known for its quality wood. A total of 33 species of trees has the potential to produce wood for building materials, construction, furniture, and boats. Six types of trees even have very good wood quality, including ironwood (Instia bijuga), matoa (Pometia pinnata), nibung (Cyrtostachys sp.), lingua (Pterocarpus indicus), ebony or oi nokom (Parastemon urophyllus) and tongkeu wood (Aidia racemosa).
Researchers concluded that tongkeu wood is of the highest quality, yellowish-brown in colour, very hard, and quite heavy. Oi nokom and matoa trees are widely used by the community to make boats, while lingua and iron wood are very suitable for making furniture and building houses.
To make the floor and poles of houses on stilts, the community around CAPS uses nibung and deu tree trunks (Caryota rumphiana var. papuana). there is also milk wood (Alstonia scholaris) which is widely used by the community to make sculptures.
The research team also found 35 species of medicinal plants, two of which are relatively rare, namely owabu or milk wood and yan-kota (Arcangelisia flava). Residents use both trees to treat malaria.
Researchers also found a type of endemic palm as medicinal plants, namely the deu tree. Many residents there believe that caterpillars that live on the trunks of former deu trees can be used as medicine for mothers about to give birth.
Then, the roots of Leea indica—a shrub in the reserve’s primary forest—contain antipyretic and diaphoretic ingredients that are very useful for the treatment of colon and uterine cancer. Local residents also use the leaves of this plant to cure skin diseases.
In addition, noni trees (Morinda citrifolia) are also found growing in the reserve, especially in shrub vegetation areas. This plant is in great demand by today’s medicine industry.
West Papua Now 