Tuesday 4th November, from the base camp in Urisa.

Everyone organises their day to explore the camp’s surroundings in their own way: outing for the day, or for only half a day, or even for several days–there is something for everyone. Christine, who coordinates the film crew, has to daily adjust the cameramen’s schedule to everyone’s comings and goings as well as their discoveries.

The first outings have proved fruitful. Here, alongside the river, the forest is different from that in Lobo. It is swampy and mangrove-like. There is a wide variety of orchids and many are in bloom. Vincent and Lina have brought back a bagful.

Quite a complete inventory of insects and arachnids is going to be drawn up thanks to our French and Indonesian colleagues who have just joined us. Tony, who was disappointed to have found the same species of cricket in Lobo as in Kaimana, has finally been able to extend his list of species.

This morning, Sopian caught rainbow fish in a stream next to the village. Laurent photographs them enthusiastically.

Laurent getting ready to photograph a rainbow fish – Copyright : S. Quérouil / IRD

This week, we also have Océane with us. She is studying the possibility of a project concerning freshwater adduction in Urisa. Here, the stream water being brackish, the villagers collect the rainwater. But when it is scarce, like now, they must go looking for freshwater five kilometers away. Océane has come to talk with the villagers to assess the water needs in the village so as to choose the best water source and mount a project which will be presented to potential funders.

Arriving at one of the springs selected for the water supply project – Copyright : S. Quérouil / IRD

(translated by Marion Ducatillon and Mathilde Lebrun, L2 SVC–Life & Earth Sciences–UM2, France)