Three nations, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia whose territories encompass the island of Borneo have agreed to preserve 85,000 square miles, about one third of the island, called "the Heart of Borneo". The remaining rain forest is threatened by unsustainable exploitation. The preservation agreement includes fostering sustainable economic use by indigenous people, but puts an end to a Chinese backed plan to create the world's largest palm oil plantation. The plan would have cleared an area of mountainous forest larger than the state of Connecticut. More than 400 new species have been found in the Heart of Borneo in the past decade. Thirteen primate species, 350 bird species, 150 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 15,000 species of plants live in the region. Recently a new leopard species was discovered there. The clouded leopard was determined to be unique species by DNA testing. A salute to these governments for taking steps to preserve this natural reserve of biodiversity so necessary to our survival as a species.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Good News from Borneo
Three nations, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia whose territories encompass the island of Borneo have agreed to preserve 85,000 square miles, about one third of the island, called "the Heart of Borneo". The remaining rain forest is threatened by unsustainable exploitation. The preservation agreement includes fostering sustainable economic use by indigenous people, but puts an end to a Chinese backed plan to create the world's largest palm oil plantation. The plan would have cleared an area of mountainous forest larger than the state of Connecticut. More than 400 new species have been found in the Heart of Borneo in the past decade. Thirteen primate species, 350 bird species, 150 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 15,000 species of plants live in the region. Recently a new leopard species was discovered there. The clouded leopard was determined to be unique species by DNA testing. A salute to these governments for taking steps to preserve this natural reserve of biodiversity so necessary to our survival as a species.