Description: Biologically, New Ireland is one of the least biologically studied regions of Papua New Guinea--its mountainous southern zone has long been considered both a high priority for biodiversity conservation and a major "scientific unknown." Conservation International agreed to organize a rapid assessment of the forests and wildlife of southern New Ireland. The purpose of the rapid assessment exercise was threefold: to assess the biodiversity of southern New Ireland, to field-test rapid-survey methodology in Papua New Guinea, and to share expertise and methodologies with staff scientists from Papua New Guinea's Department of Environment and Conservation.
Brief description: Leeanne E. Alonso is director of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program. Jessica Deichmann is a research associate with Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program in Arlington, Virginia. Sheila A. McKenna is a marine ecologist and senior research scientistwith SEAlliance. Piotr Naskrecki is an entomologist, invertebrate conservationist, and nature writer and photographer, currently with the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. Stephen Richards is managerof Conservation International'sRAPbiodiversity assessmentprogram for theAsia-Pacific region, aResearch Associateat the South AustralianMuseum, and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature'sAmphibian Red-list Authority.