YUS

The YUS Conservation Area, on the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province, was set up in 2009 as Papua New Guinea's first conservation area and covers 760 km²^[1]. It is named for the Yopno, Uruwa and Som rivers, and protects habitat of the endangered Matschie's tree-kangaroo^[1].

About 268 bird species, 44 mammal species and 26 frog species have been recorded. Birds include the palm cockatoo, dwarf cassowary and emperor bird-of-paradise, and mammals include the common spotted cuscus and striped possum^[1]. It is critical habitat for the endemic Matschie's tree-kangaroo^[1].

The area is covered in tropical forest, from the coast to the mountains^[1].

The land rises from coral reefs off the northern coast to peaks of about 4,000 m in the western Saruwaged Mountains^[1].

The area ranges from tropical coast to high mountains, so conditions change steeply with elevation^[1].

The land remains under local customary ownership. Villagers from 35 villages have formally committed to prohibit hunting, logging and mining on the land they pledged^[1].

Woodland Park Zoo's Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program worked for more than 12 years with local landowners and the PNG government to establish the area, with support from Conservation International, National Geographic and Germany's BMU through KfW^[1].

The area is valued for its forest, its altitudinal range from reef to mountain and the tree-kangaroo.

The nearest city is Lae. The sources consulted describe no visitor facilities^[1].

A team of 12 rangers was established in 2012 to map and patrol the area^[1].