The latasolic soils of the tropical rainforests protect the
ecosysytem from damage with a high very rate of break
down of humus and waste material.
The mineralogy of eight latosolic and related soils from Papua New ...
The mineralogy of eight latosolic and related soils from Papua New ...
The mineralogy of eight latosolic and related soils from Papua,
New Guinea. Geoderma, 8: 191-205. The clay, fine-silt and
Latosolic clays of the Kokoda Track and the mountains
through to West Papua protect against erosion. These
are the red-orange-yellow clays that are so well known
among PNG mountain people and trekkers on Kokoda
Track.
There are those who claim trekkers damage the Kokoda
Track. This is not possible with such a thick blanket of
latosolic soil. The track is quite indestructible if the only
attack comes from boots.
We see why the villagers in this country dig the gardens
on the mountains facing downwards. If the gardens were
dug across the slope like the Chinese terraced gardens,
there would be no run-off in the latasolic soils.
The latosolic substratum consists of a deep layer of clay
decomposed over millions of years from basalt rock. We
see basalt rock on the Kokoda Track in the face of the
waterfall below Abuari village and the huge boulder on
the track between Isurava battlefield and the rest house
above.
Clay is covered with tropical jungle and a deep layer of
humus decomposed into a layer of soil.
On the Kokoda Track and other such tracks in Asia ,
Europe and the Americas
humus has eroded down to the clay and held in place
by a latticework of tropical tree roots.
The substratum off the track can remain untouched with
the thick layer of humus and soil permanently in place but
disturbed by agriculture and logging.
The trekking industry is important to PNG and the lives
of villagers of the track. Those who carry out ecosystem
surveys have to understand that trekkers have a minimal
effect on the Kokoda Track while they attack the track
only with boots.
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