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Foja Mountains (Gauttier Mountains)

The eastern part of the northern mountain range of Papua are the Foja or Gauttier Mountains. It is an almost unexplored area which seems very promissing for endemic faunistic founds and probably has a very high biodiversity. The area is a part of a large complex of national parks, together with the Mamberamo and Rouffaer Reserves. The large river of Mamberamo actually cuts the northern mountain range in two and forms the border between the eastern Foja Mountains and the western Van Rees Mountains. The highest mountain in Foja is 2193 meter. In this almost undisturbed area are hardly any villages of importance. At the base of the Foja Mountains, near Mamberamo River, is Dabra (formerly Batavia-bivak), a place where expeditions used to camp and still in use by recent expeditions. In the north, in the Mamberamo River complex, is Lake Rombebai, the largest lake of Papua.

No people have been at higher altitudes in the Foja Mountains before the expedition of November 2005, not even the local tribes, because they believe that these "holy grounds" are inhabited by "evil ghosts". This means that the Foja Mountains have an undisturbed ecosystem, which is very interesting for ecologic and faunistic research. Animals, not used to any humans in this area, didn't show fear to the researchers of last expedition, a real paradise!

Base of map by onearth.jpl.nasa.gov (modified with geographic names by Papua-Insects)

for an empty map with clear view click here

The area escaped from a disaster, since the plans of a hydroelectric power plant have been canceled. However, oil companies still have interest to explore the northern Mamberamo area in search for oil and pilot research (drilling) already took place. Let's hope that in the future the meaning "national reserve" not also means a reserve for minerals. The whole area needs a firm protection against economic exploration, including drilling and logging.

Entomological expeditions

• 1920 - 1921 Scientific expedition to the Nassau Mountains and Mt. Wilhelmina along the Mamberamo by A.J.A. van Overeem, J.H.G. Kremer, J. van Arkel, K. Drost, J. Kooij, H.J.T. Bijlmer, A. ten Haaf, H. de Rook, J. Jongejans, P.F. Hubrecht, W.C. van Heurn, H.J. Lam and P. Droog (Indian Committee for Scientific Surveys).
• 2005 An inventorial expedition by LIPI and Conservation International of 12 specialists on all kind of animal and plant groups. The expedition was under supervision of ornithologist Bruce Beehler. The insects (mostly Lepidoptera) were investigated by Henk van Mastrigt. There were lots of discoveries of new species and rediscoveries of species expected to be extinct. More information on this expedition you will find on the website of Actionbioscience.