Heart of Borneo - case study

Question 1

Heart of Borneo

Answer 1

Background
The forests of Borneo have suffered significant deforestation due to logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, oil palm and rubber plantations, and mining.

Biodiversity loss is severe: many endangered species have lost habitat or been hunted out.

Up to 200,000 km²/year of rainforest is being lost globally; much of Borneo’s lowland rainforest is already gone.

Conservation Efforts: The Heart of Borneo (HoB)
In 2007, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei signed the HoB Declaration.

The initiative protects 22 million hectares of mainly intact rainforest with rich biological and cultural diversity.

Ecosystem services include:

Carbon storage

Water regulation

Biodiversity conservation

Cultural and tourism value

Challenges
Habitat loss, carbon emissions, land degradation, social displacement, and pollution from:

Logging

Oil palm plantations

Mining (especially gold and coal)

Forest clearance for farming and development often damages soil, water quality, and local communities.

Sustainable Management
Sustainable forestry: avoid high-value conservation areas, improve land use, and implement FSC-certified practices.

Palm oil: ensure it comes from RSPO-certified plantations, avoid clearance of high-conservation areas.

Mining: enforce regulations, conduct Environmental Impact Assessments, and plan for site rehabilitation.

Conclusion
Sabah has made progress with conservation and reforestation, but pressure remains due to population growth and land demands.

Continued success depends on strong governance, community involvement, and sustainable development strategies