Papua

I

Introduction

Papua, easternmost province of Indonesia, occupying the western half of the island of New Guinea. The province became part of Indonesia in 1969. It was known as Irian Jaya (Victorious Irian) from 1973 to 2002, when it changed its name to Papua.

II

Land and Resources

Papua is bounded on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the Ceram Sea and the Banda Sea, on the south by the Arafura Sea, and on the east by the country of Papua New Guinea, which occupies the eastern half of New Guinea. The province has an area of 421,981 sq km (162,928 sq mi), more than one-fifth of Indonesia's total land area.

Papua lies south of the equator and is predominantly mountainous. The Maoke Mountains run from west to east and contain the province’s highest peak, Puncak Jaya (5,030 m/16,503 ft), which is also the highest peak in Indonesia. The second highest peak in the province is Puncak Trikora at 4,750 m (15,584 ft). Rivers in the province include the Baliem, Mamberamo, Taritatu, and the Tariku.

The climate of Papua is tropical and wet, although a relatively dry period occurs between June and August. Precipitation totals as much as 5,500 mm (200 in) annually. The mountain peaks are snow-capped throughout the year.

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Papua is a naturalist’s paradise. The range of habitats includes alpine, heath, swamp, marsh, and several types of forests. Dense rain forest north of the mountains gives way to pine forests in the higher elevations. The mountains’ southern fringe is bordered by extensive mangrove swamps and tidal forests. About 60 percent of Papua is forested. The different habitats support an immense variety of plant life, with many species unique to New Guinea. The island is home to nearly 3,000 species of orchid. Other unusual plants include the pitcher plant, the giant anthouse plant, the sago palm, the screw pine, ferns, and rattan. Animal life in the province includes many species of marsupials, such as tree kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, opossums, and cuscuses; flying foxes; and monotremes. Crocodiles, snakes, and lizards inhabit coastal areas. There are more than 200 species of frogs and as many as 100,000 species of insects, including many beetles and spiders. Papua is especially noted for its flying fauna. Birdwing butterflies are found in many areas, and more than 600 species of birds have been identified, including the brush turkey, the bowerbird, the cassowary, and the spectacular bird of paradise.

III

Population

Papua is a sparsely settled province with a population of 2,338,700 (2003 estimate). The population is primarily rural, with only about one-quarter of inhabitants concentrated in urban areas. Most of these areas are small townships on the coastal flats and along the fertile river valleys, although mining development has led to the growth of a few inland centers. The capital of the province is Jayapura. Other settlements include Merauke, Sorong, Manokwari, Biak, and Wamena.

The inhabitants of Papua are ethnically and linguistically diverse. Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, but at least 250 other local languages are also spoken, most by small numbers of indigenous people. Many of these languages are mutually incomprehensible. The indigenous people of Papua belong to numerous subgroups of the closely related Papuan and Melanesian culture groups, whose ancestors migrated to Papua thousands of years ago. The province is also home to Chinese and Dutch communities, descendants of early settlers. Christianity is the predominant religion in Papua.

IV

Economy

Papua is the most remote and least-developed province in Indonesia. The rural population relies predominantly on subsistence agriculture supplemented by hunting and gathering. In the coastal lowland swamps, sago palm is the most significant crop. On the north coast, people cultivate garden and tree crops and are traders. Inland groups raise pigs, sago, and yams, while the sweet potato is of particular importance to the highland peoples, especially those of the Baliem Valley.

The province is an important producer of minerals. Tembagapura, in the mountains southwest of Puncak Jaya, is home to one of the world’s largest copper mines. Gold deposits in the region are also extensive. Oil exploration began under the Dutch in the 1950s, and the oil and gas fields in the Sorong area contribute significantly to the province’s exports. Forestry and offshore fishing are also important activities.

Although Papua’s natural resources are significant, their exploitation has seldom benefited the local indigenous population. This has led to discontent, including the growth of the secessionist Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM; or Free Papua Movement). The vast copper mine at Tembagapura has been the target of activist efforts that have occasionally forced production to close down. A special autonomy package for the province that went into effect in January 2002 gave Papua the right to retain 70 percent of revenues generated from oil and gas production and 80 percent of revenues from other mineral and forestry activity.

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