Satellite view of Numfoor and Biak Islands (top center), Indonesia Photograph by USGS   Southeastern Asia: Islands of Biak and Numfoor in Indonesia Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   1,100 square miles (2,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Rhode Island Critical/Endangered

· Guarding the Bay
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Guarding the Bay

Like soldiers on the front lines, the islands of this ecoregion stand guard over Cenderawasih Bay, which is tucked into the northwestern corner of New Guinea. They may be relatively small in size, but these islands harbor a high percentage of endemic species.

Special Features

Biak, Supiori, and Numfoor Islands÷along with several outlying islands÷contain a variety of moist rain forest tree species. In the lowland alluvial forests, an irregular canopy conceals an understory of palms, shrubs, herbs, and several climber, epiphyte, and fern species. In the hills, the forest canopy is lower and denser, with an open shrub layer and fewer palms. Taun, strangler fig, milkwood, and yellow-wood tree species dominate the canopy.

	Barebacked fruit bats have wings that are attached to the body along their backs, rather than along their sides as in other bats. This makes it appear as if the bats have no hair on their backs, which is the origin of their name.

Wild Side

Many endemic bird species can be found on these islands. The black-winged lory, for example, is highly nomadic and difficult to see. The tiny Geelvink pygmy-parrot, like other pygmy parrots of New Guinea, has extremely long toes that help it climb tree trunks. Other local bird species include the Numfor and Biak paradise-kingfishers, Biak monarch, and Biak white-eye. This ecoregion also shelters 29 species of mammals, including four endemics: the Biak glider, Biak giant-rat, Emmaâs giant-rat, and Biak barebacked fruit bat.

Cause for Concern

Logging and subsistence farming have damaged or destroyed much of the forest on Biak and Numfor. Currently, logging on Biak is not economically feasible. If logging projects in other parts of Indonesia are hindered in some way, however, there may be pressure to shift logging operations to these islands. Birds are particularly vulnerable here, and hunting and trapping for trade continue to be ongoing threats.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.