Saving Borneo

American Forests, Summer, 2006

The tropical South Asian island of Borneo is an ecological goldmine of exotic species, many of which are found nowhere else. Three years ago, a fox-like mammal many scientists believe to be the first new species of carnivore discovered in over a century was photographed on the Indonesian part of Borneo, according to Reuters. The third largest island in the world, Borneo is home to more than 2,000 different tree species.

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But deforestation, poaching, slash and burn farming, and the development of palm oil plantations have taken their toll on this wet, lush jewel of an island. Forests are now being decimated at the rate of about a football field per day. In addition, much of its wildlife is now dangerously close to extinction. Hundreds of orangutans are hunted or captured every year, threatening the survival of this already endangered primate. Poachers also have killed off rhinos to the point where only 13 are estimated to be living on the island.

In 2002 the United Nations pledged to slow the loss of species by 2010, but so far little progress has been made, Reuters said. AMERICAN FORESTS is planting trees on Borneo to provide habitat for orangutans and other endangered species. See story, page 22.

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