Title : Current state of systematic botany in Papua New Guinea
Abstract:
The Island of New Guinea is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, with a staggering 13,634 species of plants, 68% of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, despite its importance, the systematic study of botany in Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges. New Guinea is the most floristically diverse island in the world, with a vast array of plant species that are still unknown to science. The documentation of this flora is crucial for understanding the island's ecology, conserving its biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development. However, the task of documenting the flora of Papua New Guinea and Indonesian West Papua is hindered by a lack of resources, including trained botanists, funding, and facilities.
The Lae Herbarium, established 50 years ago, holds approximately 300,000 to 400,000 specimens from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. However, only a quarter of these specimens have been data-processed, and digitization is progressing slowly due to limited human resources. The output of botanical documentation, manuals, revisions, and monographs by local botanists has been inadequate, and the skills of experienced expatriate botanists have not been transferred to local botanists. The lack of local botanists, inadequate financial support, and prevailing national priorities have hindered progress in systematic botany in Papua New Guinea. The few local botanists are overwhelmed by the task of documenting the region's vast flora, and the IUCN's current extinction rate of 1% highlights the urgency of addressing this issue. In conclusion, the systematic study of botany in Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges, including a lack of resources, inadequate funding, and limited human capacity. It is essential to address these impediments to ensure the long-term conservation of New Guinea's unique biodiversity. By supporting local botanists and investing in systematic botany, we can promote sustainable development and preserve the island's rich ecological heritage. Papua New Guinea has a vast and a unique flora that is threatened by the impacts of climate change , population explosion and other related factors is of concern in relation to global conservation efforts. This paper intends to highlight to the wider global community that if no efforts are put into remedying the challenges discussed; Papua New Guinea flora will be greatly affected.
