The Homelands of the Birds-of-Paradise Are Under Threat

Learn more about their native forest habitats and efforts to safeguard them

Black Sicklebill by Tim Laman

More than 40 species of birds-of-paradise live in New Guinea’s swaths of the Indo-Pacific rainforest region, one of the largest intact tropical forested areas on Earth. In the slideshow and sections below, explore the landscapes of New Guinea—the most species-rich island on Earth.

New Guinea’s cloud forests harbor the most bird-of-paradise species. Photo by Tim Laman.
Cloud forest interior. Photo by Tim Laman.
Homelands of the Western Parotia and Vogelkop Lophorina in West Papua, Indonesia. Photo by Tim Laman.
Homelands of Red and Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise in West Papua, Indonesia. Photo by Tim Laman.
Misty morning over Lake Habbema near the high-elevation habitat of the Splendid Astrapia. Photo by Tim Laman.
Trans-Papuan Highway now cuts through once pristine habitat at 3,700 m elevation. Photo by Tim Laman.

Protecting Paradise

  • birders observing birds-of -paradise in forest
    Tanah Papua: A Paradise for Birds

    Experience the beauty of the island of New Guinea and meet the people in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua who are determined to save its forests.

  • Birds-of-Paradise Help Turn a Country Toward Conservation

    In collaboration with the EcoNusa Foundation, “Defending Paradise” is a campaign to preserve the tropical rainforests of Tanah Papua and Maluku Islands as habitat for birds-of-paradise in Indonesia.

  • Tanah Papua’s Forests: A Turning Point

    New Guinea is home to one of the most biodiverse tropical forest systems remaining on Earth. Yet it is under threat from industrial-scale infrastructure development, commercial timber extraction and permanent conversion for pulpwood and palm oil.

  • Intact Forests of the Indo-Pacific

    The rainforests of New Guinea in the Indo-Pacific region are rich with biodiversity and indigenous cultures. They are also one of the world’s most important greenhouse gas reservoirs, as they store vast amounts of carbon in their trees and soils.

The Cape York Region of Northern Australia

Join the Birds-of-Paradise Project team as they explore Australian Wildlife Conservancy reserves in the Cape York region of northern Australia. Watch them encounter the beauty and diversity of the area’s wildlife as they search for the Magnificent Riflebird, one of the most surprising and spectacular species that the sanctuary harbors.

Show Transcript

[lively music]

[natural sounds]

[helicopter sounds]

[camera sounds]

[natural sounds]

[whistle-like call of the Magnificent Riflebird]

End of Transcript

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