A Short History of Papua New Guinea is a concise book describing the quick and steady growth of the many small, isolated and self-sufficient societies that made up the fledgeling British Papua and German New Guinea colonies towards the end of the last century. The book traces how the British and German colonies grew and the effects that each administration had on health, religion, education and trade up to and beyond independence.

Papua New Guinea is a sovereign state located in the western Pacific Ocean, comprising the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands. The country has a diverse population of over eight million people, with hundreds of different languages spoken throughout the country. The official languages are English, Tok Pisin, and Hiri Motu. The economy is mostly dependent on agriculture, mining, and oil and gas production. The country is known for its biodiversity, with over 800 languages spoken and more than 10% of the world's species of animals and plants found within its borders. Papua New Guinea has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional practices such as tribal warfare, bride price, and initiation ceremonies still practiced in some regions. Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975 and has since faced various challenges, including social unrest and political instability. The country is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and cyclones. Despite these challenges, Papua New Guinea has made significant progress in recent years in areas such as education and health care. The government has also implemented policies aimed at promoting economic growth and reducing poverty. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Pacific Islands Forum, among other international organizations.

The island of New Guinea has a high diversity of species and a high level of endemism, containing more than 5 percent of earth’s biodiversity in just over one half of a percent of the land on the earth. New Guinea supports the largest area of mature tropical moist forest in the Asia/Pacific region. Papua New Guinea consists of the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, plus the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Buka, and Bougainville. There are between fifteen thousand and twenty thousand species of vascular plants in Papua New Guinea, with at least two thousand species of trees. The most important challenge for Papua New Guinea is the protection of biological diversity against the pressures resulting from global climate change, inappropriate destructive conversion of natural communities, unsustainable exploitation of forests, national economic development and societal demands, including a fair sharing of the nation’s wealth, and law and order issues. There are very few resources available to natural resource managers, environmental scientists, nongovernment agencies, and various extractive industries, most importantly, the timber industry that will assist in the identification of major tree species within Papua New Guinea. It is hoped that the publication of these three volumes will enable those who are responsible for natural resource management to improve their knowledge of the trees in these forests so that they can fully appreciate the richness of these biologically diverse forests. The forests of Papua New Guinea need to be managed sensitively and sustainably based on advanced evidence-based knowledge. The Trees of Papua New Guinea publication provides a comprehensive treatment of 668 species of trees (Volume 1: 257 species; Vol. 2: 246 species; Vol. 3: 165 species) that will assist in the identification of the trees of Papua New Guinea.

A brief introduction to the amazing tribal people of Papua New Guinea through a journey across the eastern highlands.

This compelling ethnography offers a nuanced case study of the ways in which the Maisin of Papua New Guinea navigate pressing economic and environmental issues. Beautifully written and accessible to most readers, Ancestral Lines is designed with introductory cultural anthropology courses in mind. Barker has organized the book into chapters that mirror many of the major topics covered in introductory cultural anthropology, such as kinship, economic pursuit, social arrangements, gender relations, religion, politics, and the environment. The second edition has been revised throughout, with a new timeline of events and a final chapter that brings readers up to date on important events since 2002, including a devastating cyclone and a major court victory against the forestry industry.

Previous edition by Bruce M. Beehler, Thane K. Pratt, and Dale A. Zimmerman.