The Irian Jaya training RAP was made possible with funding from the Smart Family Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, and USAID.

Special thanks to CI's Irian Jaya and Indonesia programs, the University of Cenderawasih, the Irian Jaya Environmental Foundation, and Dewan Adat Mamberamo Raya.

WHAT: Irian Jaya Training Rapid Assessment Program (RAP)

The biological diversity of Irian Jaya is extremely high and unique, but virtually unstudied. To collect biodiversity data to fill this knowledge gap and contribute to conservation planning, CI's RAP program is conducting its second expedition to Irian Jaya. On this expedition they will also conduct a training course for local scientists.

Expert biologists will train Indonesian participants in rapid biodiversity assessment methods for six taxonomic groups. The hands-on training course will lead to an actual scientific survey of birds, insects, freshwater fish, mammals, herpetofauna, and vegetation.
 
WHERE: Yongsu and the Mamberamo River basin, Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Located in the western portion of the world's highest and largest tropical island, Irian Jaya is considered the last great rainforest wilderness in Indonesia. The province's range of altitudes (from sea level to the highest mountains in the Asia-Pacific region) helps to create an extraordinary array of ecosystems, biodiversity, and endemic species (those species found nowhere else in the world).

This island treasure is at risk, however, from land conversion, which is ascribed to logging, transmigration, plantation agriculture, mining, oil and gas operations, the introduction of alien (non-native) species, and infrastructure projects such as dams and roads.

WHEN: August 19 - September 15, 2000
From August 19 to August 30, more than 20 participants will take part in the training course. Then six participants will join the expert biologists in the Mamberamo River basin to conduct a rapid biodiversity assessment from September 1 - 15.
 
Itinerary:
August 19-30, 2000: Yongsu research camp
August 31, 2000: Jayapura
September 1-7, 2000: Furu River site in the Mamberamo River basin
September 8-15, 2000: Tiri River site in the Mamberamo River basin
September 16-18, 2000: Sentani
 
WHO: International Team of Scientists and Indonesian Participants Conservation biologists from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States will teach participants from Indonesian universities, non-government organizations (NGOs), and government organizations.
 
WHY: Objectives of the Biological RAP training in Irian Jaya

1. To build capacity among Indonesian biologists in methods for rapid biological assessments, in data analysis and in report preparation.

2. To collect biological data, which is currently severely lacking, and to build an understanding of ecological processes and biodiversity of Irian Jaya and the Mamberamo River basin specifically.

3. To create a framework for further conservation recommendations about the areas surveyed to decision-makers.

4. To publish the results and make them available to decision-makers, stakeholders, scientists, and other interested parties. (read more)