Human Impact on the Subalpine Vegetation of Mt Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea

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Abstract
In the Pindaunde Valley on Mt. Wilhelm forest, grassland and mire communities form an irregular mosaic between 3300 m and the treeline at 3900-4000 m. The history of this vegetation pattern was investigated by means of pollen and charcoal analyses of short peat monoliths from 28 sites. The monoliths were dated and correlated by the presence of 2 volcanic tephra layers approximately 300 and 1200 yr old. About 1200 B.P. non-forest vegetation below the treeline was confined to waterlogged areas and human impact was not significant. Local forest clearance started more than 700 B.P. but the major clearance at most sites occurred within a few years of the 300-yr old tephra fall. More recent clearance has again been localized and shrubs have increasingly invaded the secondary tussock grasslands. Forest clearance was caused by fires lit by man. Periods of exceptional drought would have been necessary for the forest to burn.

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