Lower Kikori River basin, Papua New Guinea Photograph by John Morrison   Southeastern Asia: Western coast of New Guinea Mangroves   10,300 square miles (26,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Vermont and Rhode Island combined Critical/Endangered

· Between Land and Sea
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Between Land and Sea

At the point where Papua New Guinea’s diverse landscapetropical forests meets the ocean, you are sure to find mangroves. The mangrove tree species communities here are the most diverse in the world, and they provide essential habitat for a variety of animals living on the water’s edge.

Special Features

Mangroves are sensitive species, and theirThe growth and abundance of different mangrove species areare dependent on particularroper salt levels of the soil and water, drainage, and flooding periods. Theis longest and deepest stretches of mangroves occurs along the southern edge of New Guinea, which has the highest mangrove diversity on the planet. Tree species vary according to location. On the coastal shores, Avicennia mangroves dominate. On tidal creeks, Sonneratia species, with their extensive roots, can be found. Rhizophora and Bruguiera species dominate the landward fringe. In certain places, other swamp forest species will grow alongside mangroves.

	Although most rail species can fly, flightless rails such as the New Guinea species probably evolved when rails were dispersed to isolated islands during large storms long ago. Finding few or no predators to fly away from, the birds eventually evolved into flightless species.

Wild Side

Although this ecoregion’s mangroves are diverse, its terrestrial animal diversity is somewhat low compared to other Indonesian New Guinea ecoregions. Two bat species, however, can be found here--t: the New Guinea sheathtail bat and the Watt’s pipistrelle. The mangroves also harbor ten bird species that are endemic or near-endemic, including the dusky scrubfowl, New Guinea flightless rail, western crowned-pigeon, black lory, brown lory, Papuan swiftlet, and green figbird. Crabs and snails climb the trees, while saltwater crocodiles patrol the channels.

Cause for Concern

Although some mangroves have been exploited for use as cooking fuel, this is a difficult environment for people to work in, which discourages timber harvesting. About a third of this ecoregion lies in formally protected areas.

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