SUGAPA 1(1) [2006]

Suara Serangga Papua, 2006, 1 (1) July – October 2006

1.Henk van Mastrigt
Introduction of SUGAPA

Editorial
The editorial mentioned this edition as first number of a new magazine, edited and distributed by Kelompok Entomologi Papua (KEP), Entomological Workgroup in Papua and displays entomological information about Papua (formerly Irian Jaya Province), to enlarge the knowledge of the biodiversity of our nature, in order to be able to make conservation possible.

History
The first survey by Henk van Mastrigt with a student of the local University of Cenderawasih (UNCEN) was in 1996 to the Wandammen Mountains. Since 2001 Henk has been accompaning students in one or more surveys yearly. The collected specimens are in his private collection in Jayapura, now named Koleksi Serangga Papua (KSP, Papua Insect Collection), with over 42,000 specimens. Participants of the surveys became a member of a workgroup on entomology, which held its first meeting on November 9th 2005 and its second meeting on May 27th 2006, in which was decided to start a magazine, to have an own telephone number and e-mail address and to intensify its activities. So, the date of that second meeting was chosen as our birthday.

Vision and mission
KEP wants to survey the insect fauna of Papua, in order to know its biodiversity which will help to conserve Papua’s nature, in cooperation with various organizations and private persons (specialists in entomology) from inside and outside the country. Famous organizations as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Conservation International (CI) have been working on this item from years and years, but their focus is more the larger animals as mamalia, birds and reptiles.
KEP also wants to provide information to above mentioned organizations, about endemism and results from ‘hot spots’, in order to preserve Papua’s forests. Information we forward to websites a.o. www.delias-butterflies.co.uk and www.papua-insects.nl and can be found in papers of students.
At the same time KEP wants to help teachers and students of the UNCEN and other universities in Papua, and support working at inventories and surveys on insects in Papua.
The results of these cooperations will help KEP to determine the ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity in Papua.

Plans for the next future
After the publication of “Buku Panduan Kupu-kupu” (see book corner) on butterflies from the Mamberamo area to the Cyclops Mountains, the idea was to publish more field guides from other areas in Papua. The Schouten Islands north of Papua (Numfor, Supiori, Biak, Japen and some other smaller islands) will be next, followed by the Birdshead Peninsula, including the Peninsula Raja Ampat, Tamrau and Arfak Mountains, Onin and Wandammen Peninsula. The priority of surveys is not only depending from the above mentioned targets, but also from the origin of the local students, invitations of organizations and sponsoring.

Content and purpose of magazine
In Suara Serangga Papua KEP want to publish – step by step – results of entomological surveys in the past and about other papers on entomology in Papua, and report the results of new surveys.
The editors will receive short articles from members of KEP and other interested people about themes which contribute to the entomological knowledge on Papua.
The magazine will be distributed to non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) in Papua interested in ecology and entomology, to governmental departments, universities and highschools, private subscribers and the members of KEP.

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