Biodiversity

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 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
BIODIVERSITY

The release of pig-nosed turtles into the wild in the Lorentz National Park as part of Freeport Indonesia’s biodiversity support program.
The PT Freeport Indonesia project area is located in the Indonesian Province of Papua, and is adjacent to the Lorentz National Park, a 2.5 million hectare area which was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1999. The entire region of southern Papua exhibits a high level of endemism and one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Similar to the PT Freeport Indonesia project area, the park encompasses a continuous, intact transect from high mountains to tropical marine environment, including extensive wetlands near and along the coast. PT Freeport Indonesia has no operations in Lorentz National Park nor do its operations impact the park.

We have conducted numerous ecological and biodiversity studies within our project area to facilitate effective biodiversity management. These biodiversity studies, done in conjunction with Indonesian and international experts, included surveys of: vegetation (from the Lowland, Montane, Subalpine, Alpine and Nival Zones), ethno-botany, medicinal plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, soil fauna, and both aquatic and terrestrial insects. The large majority of this work is directly applicable and available to researchers charged with developing management plans for the Lorentz National Park.
 
Extensive botanical and taxonomy surveys within the PT Freeport Indonesia project area (from the Coastal to Nival Zones) were also carried out over a six-year period by staff from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, England, in conjunction with assistance from Indonesian institutions. More than 5,000 flowering and fruiting plant species were identified and prepared for herbariums. Posters of the vegetation zones and taxonomy of the plants were produced and numerous scientific publications in peer review journals have resulted from these studies. In 2006, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew published a book documenting these surveys, A Guide to the Alpine and Subalpine Flora of Mount Jaya.

From the scientific point of view, PT Freeport Indonesia’s biodiversity programs have significantly contributed to the knowledge of natural science in Papua through the discovery of new species, reference collections, and the publication of papers, books and posters. PT Freeport Indonesia has published books in its biodiversity series including: The Freshwater Fish of the Timika Region, New Guinea, The Birds of Mimika, The Butterflies of Mimika, and Subalpine and Alpine Fauna of Mimika, Papua Indonesia.

Additionally, we have supported numerous scientific biodiversity studies in coordination with international non-governmental organizations and the Indonesian government throughout the province of Papua. One mission that PT Freeport Indonesia supported in 2005 was a widely reported Conservation International expedition to the Foja Mountains region of Papua that resulted in the discovery of many new species of plants, birds, frogs, insects and mammals.

An overhead view of a healthy
coniferous forest established
on tailings sediment through
Freeport’s assisted
colonization program.
In 2006, an expedition to identify frog species in the Contract of Work area identified at least 20 and as many as 25 previously undescribed (i.e., new) species. More than 40 different species of frogs were identified in lowland forests around Timika and Kuala Kencana. This is the most diverse assemblage documented to date on the island of New Guinea. Major range extensions were documented for several species, including the first records for Indonesia of at least three species.

In 2006, PT Freeport Indonesia worked in cooperation with the Indonesian Animal Rescue Center to return to their natural habitats in Papua nearly 3,000 pig-nosed turtles. This was truly a cooperative effort with Representatives of government, non-governmental groups, Indonesian military and police and tribal chiefs participating.
 
Biodiversity Program Supports New Discoveries and Happy Returns
PT Freeport Indonesia, operating in the rugged terrain of Papua, is always prepared for rescue operations. The company’s emergency response teams are well versed in what it takes to save lives, including flying special missions to carry individuals to safety. One such mission of precious cargo was flown on August 28, 2006, when 3,000 rare “pig nosed turtles” destined to be smuggled to dining tables in Hong Kong were flown with Freeport Indonesia’s assistance from Jakarta back to their natural home in Papua.

Freeport Indonesia, in partnership with the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservancy, and the Wildlife Rescue Centers in Cikananga Sukabumi and Yogyakarta, returned the turtles to the wild following a raid conducted against illegal traders at airports in Java.

Dr. Rusdian Lubis, PT Freeport Indonesia’s Deputy President Director, instructed his environmental staff in Papua to prepare special ponds to rehabilitate the turtles following the flight and prior to their release into the wild in the Lorentz Nature Preserve. A ceremonial release including government officials and members of the Kamoro coastal community was held several weeks later.

“Preserving and studying the rich biodiversity in Papua is an exciting and very important part of our environmental program,” says Dr. Lubis. The Freeport organization has conducted and supported numerous biodiversity studies within the project area to facilitate effective biodiversity management.

These studies, conducted in conjunction with Indonesian and international experts, have included dozens of surveys into both botany and zoology.

One such study conducted in 2006 resulted in the discovery of more than 20 undocumented or “new” species of frogs, an astounding number reflecting the rich biodiversity of Papua.

This first comprehensive assessment of frog populations in the Mimika area of Papua was conducted by amphibian biologists Dr. Stephen Richards and Dr. Burhan Tjaturadi. The researchers selected the area because of the logistical support and infrastructure offered by PT Freeport Indonesia, as well as the abundance of frogs in the area. Frogs are often viewed as indicators of an area’s ecological health. “The wet climate and varied topography of Mimika provides a wide range of suitable habitats for frogs,” said Richards. “The lowland forests around Timika harbor the most diverse lowland frog assemblage of any documented area in New Guinea to date,” he added.

PT Freeport Indonesia’s Biodiversity Program has significantly contributed to the knowledge of natural science in Papua through the discovery of new species, reference collections, and the publication of papers, books and scientific posters. Additionally, the program has supported numerous other biodiversity studies in coordination with international NGOs and the Indonesian government throughout Papua, including the widely reported Conservation International expedition to the Foja Mountains region of Papua in 2006 that resulted in the discovery of many new species of plants, birds, frogs, insects and mammals.

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