Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests

The Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southeastern New Guinea. The ecoregion covers portions of New Guinea's southern lowlands.^[2][3][4]

Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests
Lorentz National Park, Papua, Indonesia
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm	Australasian realm
Biome	tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders	List Central Range montane rain forests New Guinea mangroves Southeastern Papuan rain forests, Southern New Guinea freshwater swamp forests Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands
Geography
Area	122,335 km2 (47,234 sq mi)
Countries	Indonesia Papua New Guinea
Provinces	Papua (Indonesia) Gulf Southern Highlands, Western (Papua New Guinea)
Coordinates	6.1°S 140.2°E / -6.1; 140.2
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/endangered
Protected	5,841 km2 (5%)[1]

Geography

The ecoregion includes the foothills and lowlands south of New Guinea's Central Range. Above 1000 meters elevation, the lowland forests transition to the Central Range montane rain forests. The Southern New Guinea freshwater swamp forests ecoregion covers extensive areas of the Fly River lowlands to the south, and the lower reaches of some other rivers that drain from the highlands to the sea. The Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands cover the southern tip of New Guinea.^[5]

Climate

The ecoregion has a humid tropical climate. The slopes of the Central Range above 100 meters elevation include some of the rainiest portions of New Guinea.^[6]

Flora

Broadleaf evergreen rain forests cover most of the ecoregion. Alluvial forests lie in the plains, and hill forests cover the foothills of the Central Range. There are smaller areas of semi-evergreen forest, swamp forest, and savanna.^[7]

Fauna

The ecoregion has 69 species of mammals, principally marsupials, bats, and murid rodents. There are no strict endemic species. There are 344 species of birds in the ecoregion.^[8]

The largest bird in the ecoregion is the flightless southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).^[9]

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that 5,841 km², or 5%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. About three-quarters of the ecoregion is still forested.^[10] The large area protected by the Lorentz National Park.

External links

• "Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.