One-World presents Linck between two cultures

Author: Rodrigo Seira

Ethan B. Linck, an explorer, ornithologist, and high school senior, spoke last Thursday in Bristol about his latest exploration trip. In a presentation entitled "Dispatch for the Last Unknown: Ecology, Culture and Exploration in Papua New Guinea," Linck discussed his experiences during a summer trip to the island and gave an overview of the country's geography, history and culture.

While Ethan Link is only a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, his will to explore is undaunted. Drawing from his research last summer, Linck is in the process of crafting a scientific paper on the bird life of the Pawaian conservation area in the Gulf province and plans to write an in-depth narrative of his travels.

Additionally, Linck is applying for a National Geographic Explorer's Grant to fund "Expedition Bewail." The grant is intended by National Geographic to "foster the next generation of researchers, explorers and conservationists," and if it is approved, the grant would send Ethan along with fellow CVU senior Nicolas A. Armas to "document and assess relative abundance and distribution of selected fauna, determine the level of habitat diversity, and identify potential environmental threats in an unexplored region of the Bewani Mountains of northern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea."

The island of Papua New Guinea, which Linck describes as having the shape of "a prehistoric bird perching on top of the Cape York Peninsula of Australia," is world-renowned for its diversity - culturally, geographically and biologically.

A country of about six million people, Papua New Guinea is "the second largest island in the world and the largest tropical island," Linck explained. It is also home to "over 1,000 indigenous languages" and is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. The country's geography is similarly varied and, in places, extremely rugged. A harsh mountain range runs the length of the island, forming a large highlands region. This terrain has made it difficult for the country to develop transportation infrastructure.

A veil of mystery, has covered all this richness because the country is one of the world's least explored. Many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist there.

It was Linck's passion for this country and his drive to "promote the conservation of primary forest habitat in Papua New Guinea" that pushed him to volunteer for the Research and Conservation Foundation of New Guinea. As he showed a slideshow composed of impressive photography, Linck told the story of his exploration.

After arriving at Port Moresby, one of the most dangerous cities on earth, Linck made his way to the highland settlement of Goroka. There, he volunteered with the local NGO, the Research and Conservation Foundation of Papua New Guinea.

"There were circular grass huts, known locally as haus kunai, and garden plots of sweet potato, or kau kau, and bananas." Linck recalled of his arrival.

He spent several days in Goroka preparing to fly into the main project - the 3,000 square kilometer Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area where he was able to help map clan boundaries for future conservation efforts.

"Living on passion fruit and biscuits, I was able to make use of their conservation education library and the unfailing friendliness of everyone to start learning Tok Pisin, the local lingua franca," said Linck.

After a brief stay in Goroka, he then flew to the village of Haia, a large rural settlement in New Guinea that had been unconnected from the rest of the world until 1960.

"Mountains, rivers, and forests stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction, without a single obvious relic of humanity," Linck said.

From there, Ethan completed the first ever avifauna survey of traditional Pawaian tribal lands in the rich hill forest of the Yamo Valley. He was the first Westerner to ever visit the area, and to meet the indigenous locals of the Puzano Village.

"Topless women with painted faces and grass skirts coated me in flowers and broke the ground before me with an adze, chanting and wailing. Nearby, several elders stood clutching spears, with engraved boar tusks through their septums," said Linck of his arrival to the village.

After completing a three-week stay in the bush, Linck traveled to the far-flung New Ireland Province. He crisscrossed the long and skinny island made up of "one stunning white sand beach after another" where he "worked photographing and describing the environmental riches and challenges facing the outlying island."

Linck's presentation was made possible with the support of the "One-World Library Project" in the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. The project has a two-pronged approach that is composed of a growing collection of personally recommended books, films, and other media about world cultures and monthly programs around a variety of themes related to world cultures.

"The One-World Library Project's goal is to bring the world to our community," explained one of the board members.