Puncak Jaya a herbal haven

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: At least 45 kinds of medicinal herbs have been found at the natural reserve of Puncak Jaya mountain here by the researchers of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Head of the local forestry office, SM Pardede, said here on Monday that apart from the 45 medicinal herbs, the researchers also found 49 kinds of edible mushrooms.

Pardede said the research was conducted by LIPI in cooperation with Jayapura's forestry office and the University of Cendrawasih in Manokwari.

According to him, about 220 kinds of rare flora and fauna have been identified in the 862 hectare natural reserve during an earlier research.

The findings, however, have yet to be further studied, he said.

The natural reserve in Puncak Jaya has two kinds of reptiles, three kinds of amphibians, 31 kinds of insects and nine kinds of mammals.

Antara reports that Irian Jaya has a total of 56 natural reserves covering a total area of eight million hectares.