In the final episode of Survivorman, Les Stroud lived among the Hewa people of Papua New Guinea. The Hewa live in the largest and least explored wilderness in the Pacific: the Snowy Mountain region on the island of New Guinea.  Found on the northern most fringe in the forests surrounding the Laigaip River, the Hewa’s lush rainforest stretches for nearly 300kms, offering no roads and very little development. This area of New Guinea boasts the richest biodiversity on the island, and the Hewa are experts at navigating the tough terrain.

Proud of their way of life, the Hewa are building a future utilizing their unique knowledge of their forest habitat. Since 1988, they have partnered with Bill Thomas, an anthropologist from Montclair State University, who has recorded their traditions and worked to conserve their rainforests and develop industry in a sustainable way. This collaboration has resulted in an initiative known as the Papua Forest Stewards. In this intiative, the Hewa team with western scientists to share their knowledge of the vast wilderness they call home. http://www.indopacific.org/foreststewards.asp  In 2008, their first major collaboration resulted in the discovery of 50 new species, including a brilliant green tree frog, jumping spiders and a new striped gecko, to name just a few. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29875909/.

Now Les Stroud and SPOT are teaming with the Hewa and the Smithsonian Institution to develop a conconservation plan for one of the most secretive creatures indigenous to these forests, the echidna. Funny mammals that look almost like spiny anteaters, there are only two species of echidna – the long and short beaked. Very little is known about the distribution or natural history of either species. Both are disappearing in the more populated portions of the island. Using SPOT locator beacons, the Papua Forest Stewards will be locating active echidna dens, and transmitting their location to Smithsonian researchers. This will begin to build a database on echidna numbers and density for the region, showcasing the importance and knowledge of Hewa naturalists, and encouraging researchers to take advantage of a unique and vital research opportunity.