Investor Presentaiton
Brent Stirton/Getty Images/WWF-UK
'FINAL FRONTIER'
In the decade between 1998 and 2008 at least 1,060
new species were discovered in the island of New
Guinea. Other species of flora and fauna may be lost
before scientists have had a chance to examine
them. In other words, innumerable species may
become extinct even before they are 'discovered'.
This is one of the world's last tropical wildernesses
but it is under increasing threat from industrial-scale
logging, forest conversion for oil palm plantations,
mining, built roads, population growth, agricultural
encroachment, invasive species, climate change.
Dense rainforests in the interior are believed to
support at least 21,000 plant species. It is estimated
that a single square kilometre of lowland rainforest
may contain as many as 150 species of birds.
Reefs around New Guinea have the most species
of coral and reef fish in the world, but are under
increasing pressure from unsustainable fisheries.
As tree lines advance upward, and the frequency
of fires increase due to rising temperatures, species
confined to the top of mountains face extinction.View entire presentation