Description
The Kamoro are an ethnolinguistic group of Papuans living along the north shore of the Arafura Sea and a short distance inland. Like other Papuan groups, they take advantage of the resources available to them. This book lists the Kamoros’ natural resources with the emphasis on what they actually use from their ecosystems: the sea, the estuaries, the mangroves and the tropical rain forest. A study of the natural resources in four separate areas was undertaken by the author in the year 2000. The research was conducted in Iwaka, an inland village, Pigapu Village, an inland riverside settlement, the coastal village of Atuka, and Paopao, a semi-temporary agglomeration of related clans located on a rived they owned traditionally. The information was gathered in the Indonesian language, supplemented by the names in the local Kamoro dialects. The author and his Kamoro informants consulted together books illustrating various animal groups in order to obtain the names in English, Indonesian, Kamoro as well as the all-important universal binomial scientific designation. This research was a part of a wider study by the author on the risk assessment of the influence of the mining company Freeport Indonesia due to the tailings from processing of the mined ores. The tailings had a considerable effect on the lifestyles of the Kamoro who lived in the areas where they were deposited. The various chapters in the book concentrate on the vegetation (and especially that of the mangroves) with various chapters devoted to the most important animal groups used by the Kamoro for food and a variety of other purposes. These groups include birds, fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, reptiles, mammals and insects. An appendix groups different designations together, such as Latin name and Kamoro name, then Kamoro name followed by the Latin one. All the various animal groups are treated this way for convenient quick references. English names are also listed. The book ends with a bibliography of all the references consulted.
About the author
Dr Muller spent 22 years working and living with two Papuan groups, allowing him access to excellent relations with not just the people but also prominent academics and scientists and their resources.
Table of contents
Preface
1. Introduction to the Kamoro Natural Resources Utilization Study ……………………………………………..9
- Conclusions of the Kamoro natural resources study
- Land problems
- A tremendous natural resource variety and access by ‘kapiri kame’
- A most useful comparison
- Who are the Kamoro and where do they live?
- Freeport and drastic changes
- Three essential eco-systems, then seven
- A new lifestyle
- Methodology and focus of this resource utilization study
- Research techniques: Illustrated books and on-ground truthing
2. Iwaka and Its ‘Kapiri Kame’ (Temporary Camps) ……….39
- waka: The main problem is land rights; overview points
- ‘Kapiri Kame’ at Iwaka Village
- Drinking water at Iwaka
- A bit of history: Logging and cash economy
- Programs to help the Iwaka Kamoro
- The ‘kapiri kame’
- Timing and length of stay
- What is taken and what is brought back
- Two river systems and their camps
- The physical ‘kapiri kame’
- Appendix I: The Garbage Road
- Appendix II: Logging and its economics
-
Appendix III: The campsAppendix IV: Land rights, leadership and resentment
-
Appendix V: The IBF foundation: a private endeavor in Iwaka
3. Atuka Village ……………………………………………………………..73
- Paopao (Kali Kopi Bawah)
- Positive aspects
- Negative aspects (as per the local Kamoro leaders of the hamlet)
- Negative aspects (as per author)
- Suggestions
4. Pigapu Village, Feb. 12 to 15, 2000 ……………………………..89
- Paopao (Kali Kopi Bawah)
- Positive aspects
- Negative aspects (as per the local Kamoro leaders of the hamlet)
- Negative aspects (as per author)
- Suggestions
5. Kamoro Vegetation Use ……………………………………………103
- Canoes & paddles
- Construction of dwellings
- Pandanus and the ‘kapiri kame’
- Tools, hunting, fishing
- Forest Fruits Leaves and Nuts
- Planted fruit and vegetables
- Plants of various uses
- Decorations
- Appendix I: Mangrove Flora use by Kekwa Village
- Appendix II: timber species taken by lumber companies
- Kamoro Medicinal Plants
6. Mangroves: A Fascinating Eco-System ……………………..139
- Mangrove adaptations
- Ecological tragedy
- Animals in the mangrove supermarket
- Mollusks
- Crustaceans
- Birds
- Fish
- Insects
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- A most useful family
- A true pioneer
- The big apple
- The cannonball mangrove
- Patience: A few more mangroves, landward
- A herb and a fern
- Camp followers: Mangrove associates
- The nypa palm: Untapped potential
- The useful pandanus
7. A Visit to the Mangroves ………………………………………….163
- The sago palm: A staple tree of life
- The rich mangrove environment
8. Birds in Kamoroland: A Unique Flock ……………………..171
- A unique flock of birds
- Birdwatchers, take note
- The cassowary: A bad-tempered beast
- Mound-builders
- Sea, swamp, river: Water birds
- Birds of prey
- Of pigeons and doves
- The brightest flock: Lories, lorikeets, parrots, and cockatoos
- Hornbills: The most obvious
- Showy headdresses: The Greater Bird-of-Paradise
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
- Appendix IV
- Appendix V
9. Fishes and Fishing ……………………………………………………209
- What’s in a name?
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
- Appendix IV
- Appendix V
- Appendix VI
- Appendix VII
- Appendix VIII
10. Crustacea: Shrimp and Crabs Species ………………………253
- A bit of background and fun facts
- Kamoro area crustaceans
11. The Mollusks of Kamoroland……………………………………261
- Mollusk background
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
- Appendix IV
- Bibliography
12. Reptiles in the Kamoro Area: Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, and Turtles …………………………………………….281
- Turtles
- Crocodiles
- Lizards
- Snakes
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
13. Mammal………………………………………………………………..313
- Introduced species
- The weirdest mammals: monotremes
- The marsupials
- The Dasyurids
- The bandicoots
- Wallabies and tree kangaroos
- The cuddly cuscus
- Other marsupials: Sugar gliders and possums
- Rats and bats
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
14. Insects Used by the Kamoro…………………………………….319
- Kamoro hors d’oeuvres: Sago grubs, and lists of insects in this area
- Other grubs for future taste-tests
- Appendix I
- Appendix II
- Appendix III
15. Appendix……………………………………………………………….333
KAMORO RESOUCES BIBLIOGRAPHY ……. 387
