Northern New Guinea Swamp Forests

The largely unexplored Northern New Guinea Swamp Forests "represents the lowland, freshwater, and peat swamp forests associated with the great lowland river systems of New Guinea," home to a wide array of wildlife. "Bats rule these forests", such as the Fly River horseshoe bat, and the Fly River trumpet-eared bat. Additionally, 76 species of mammals "inhabit this ecoregion, 13 [of which] are endemic or near-endemic to these forests . . . The highlands of the north coastal ranges harbor Scott’s tree kangaroo, considered to be the largest and most threatened forest mammal native to Papua New Guinea. The ecoregion’s two endemic bird species include Brass’ Friarbird and the pale-billed sicklebill. The raucous calls of large, black palm cockatoos can be heard in the lowland forests and swamps." Despite its immense biodiversity, rampant deforestation driven by logging operations, agricultural expansion, and palm oil plantations, along with illegal hunting and climate change, jeopardize the delicate balance of this swamp forest ecosystem.