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http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18084067%255E954,00.html

'Eden' almost stayed hidden
  Brian Williams
 09feb06
 RESEARCHERS who found dozens of species new to science in a remote West
Papuan "lost world" toyed with the idea of keeping it secret so it would
remain protected.

 
They want the jungle to remain just that - free from the footprints of
humans despite looming pressure from loggers and poachers. 
The area in the Foja Mountains has already been declared a reserve by the
Indonesian Government, but Adelaide mammologist and expedition member Kris
Helgen said yesterday pressure was inevitable. 
     
   An expedition in November and December last year turned up dozens of new
species including 20 frogs, four butterflies, at least five palms, an
echidna and a spectacular tree kangaroo similar to that found in far north
Queensland. 
The only scientist known to have been there before was noted US
ornithologist Jared Diamond who, in the 1970s, advised Indonesia to make it
a reserve. 
"He didn't collect anything . . . but found enough to provide us with
tantalising clues as to what might be there," Mr Helgen said. 
Local tribes visited lowland areas but never set foot on the steep mountains
where the expedition did its work. 
"It's a series of unbroken peaks nearly 100km across," Mr Helgen said.
"There's a sea of flat lowland, then out of this comes this majestic
mountain range rising to about 2200m. It's cool and an otherworldly
landscape, with moss-covered trees and strange birds flitting about. 
"It's taken so long to be explored because it's so remote, hard to get to
and difficult to get permission to visit. We had six village headmen with
us and they saw animals they had never seen before but only heard about in
legends. 
"We worked with animals that did not know to be afraid because they had
never seen humans before. 
"  We brought a botanist along and he got so excited. At almost every turn,
he was finding something he had never seen before, including the world's
largest rhododendron and new palms." 
Conservationists say the treasure trove of species is in danger of being
overrun by poachers. 
Indonesian Forest Watch spokesman Togu Manurung said the rarest could
attract huge sums on the black market. 
"With the exposure, there will now be a chance for outsiders to exploit that
richness," he said. 
Indonesian Forestry Department Papua office head Ben Saroy said the region
was already a conservation area so there was no need to worry in the short
term. 
Mr Helgen said the area's only protection was its remoteness. It had no
roads or tracks. 
"We decided to let the world know because it might encourage the Indonesians
to protect it," he said. "It's been a surprise to us how it has captured
the world's imagination. 
"Indonesia is hungry for resources and there is a lot of logging in all the
provinces up there. It's just a matter of time before someone tries to open
it up." 
Scientists hopes to go back later this year in the dry season of
August-September when trees will be flowering - conditions that are
expected to produce even more finds.