The Asmat people of Papua live in the midst of the world’s largest rain forest. It is hot and humid all year round. The climate encourages an explosion of biodiversity in which many different plants and animals thrive. It is estimated that between five and ten percent of the world’s total number of species live in New Guinea. The homeland of the Asmat is the southwestern coast of New Guinea, bordering the Arafura Sea. The land is dotted with various types of swamps: mangrove, tidal and freshwater. The land is bordered by the Lorentz National Park.
Geologically, New Guinea, the world’s second largest island, is actually part of the Australian continent. It is part of the Malay Archipelago. The highest point is Puncak Jaya, with an elevation in excess of 16,000 feet. The island has an estimated 16,000 plant species. The south coast features mangroves and sago palms. Many species of orchids, giant rhododendron and other exotic flowers are found throughout the island. Deforestation is an environmental issue that concerns the entire island.
Features of New Guinea include copious rainfall and active volcanoes. Many animals found in Australia can also be found in Papua, including marsupials and bats. Some animals, such as pigs and the New Guinea Singing dog, were introduced by human colonizers. There are over 650 species of birds, including the fabled birds of paradise, as well as parrots, bowerbirds and cassowaries. There are hundreds of species of amphibians and butterflies.
At sea level, minimum temperatures year round range from 21 to 24 degrees Centigrade. Maximum temperatures average from 30 to 34 degrees C. The constant high humidity is usually above 90 percent at dawn, but can decrease to 60 percent in the afternoons. From May through October, the southeastern trade winds can be quite gusty. The southern monsoon season is June through September.
Orchid lovers are fascinated by the over 3,000 species that are native to Papua. Trees in the lowland swamps host many orchid species, whereas the rain forests encourage species that root in soil. Tree-bound orchids (called “epiphytic”) prefer to live on the upper halves of their tree hosts, enjoying the increased light and air movement available near the tree tops. Only a few species that are native to Australia can be found in Papua. There is political pressure in Papua to protect the orchids from encroaching cattle ranches. Deforestation affects many tree-bound orchid species. Another threat is the spread of coffee and tea plantations. Orchid farming is becoming more popular, in which seedlings are raised in sterile flasks. This may help to preserve orchids in the wild.