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A forest dragon (Hypsilurus modestus) Photo courtesy of Debra Wright and Andrew Mack
Photo courtesy of Arlyne Johnson |
Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea
To rebuild the declining populations of these magnificent birds, 21 clans of Gimi and Pawaians joined forces with two conservation groups. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which was doing scientific research in the area, and the Research and Conservation Foundation of Papua New Guinea helped establish locally owned and operated enterprises to provide lodging and guide services to visiting scientists and ecotourists. The Biodiversity Conservation Network, a U.S.-based program, provided essential support for the development of these enterprises. It was hoped that environmentally sustainable activities would provide the Gimi and Pawaians with needed income and incentives to continue acting as stewards of the rain forest.
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