Der er godt nyt for nogle af verdens mest sjældne plante- og dyrearter i regnskoven på Borneo.
De 3 lande, som deler Borneo – Brunei, Indonesien og Malaysia – har vedtaget at samarbejde om at bevare “Borneos hjerte”, der er et af verdens biologisk rigeste områder, skriver WWF Verdensnaturfonden Danmark i en pressemelding.
WWF har i årevis kæmpet for, at dette skulle lykkes. Miljøorganisationen har derfor også udtrykt stor anerkendelse overfor de 3 lande og lovet opbakning og hjælp til at føre visionen ud i livet.
“Borneos hjerte” – et område på 220.000 km2 regnskov – huser 6 procent af verdens samlede biologiske mangfoldighed, og har foruden spektakulære arter som Sumatra-næsehorn, orangutang og asiatisk elefant et utal af arter, som ikke findes andre steder i verden.
Også danske skatteydere har bidraget til, at “Borneos hjerte” i dag synes sikret. Danida har nemlig de seneste 10 år støttet et stort WWF-projekt, der har sikret den vigtige nationalpark Kayan Mentarang i regnskovsområdet.
Borneo forest magic – A treasure for Southeast Asia
There is only one place remaining in Southeast Asia where tropical rainforests can still be conserved on a very large scale – a place where endangered species such as orangutans, elephants and rhinos, and countless other undiscovered species continue to thrive.
This area straddles the transboundary highlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, and reaches out through the foothills into adjacent lowlands and to parts of Brunei.
We call this area the Heart of Borneo.
The forests of the Heart of Borneo are some of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth, possessing staggeringly high numbers of unique plant and animal species.
The Heart of Borneos forest area is 1 of the only 2 places on Earth where orang-utans, elephants and rhinoceros still co-exist and where forests are currently large enough to maintain viable populations.
WWFs conservation objectives
WWF aims to assist Borneos 3 nations (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) to conserve the area known as the Heart of Borneo through a network of protected areas and sustainably-managed forests, and through international co-operation led by the Bornean governments, supported by a global effort.
The future of this transboundary area depends on the collaboration of all 3 governments as no one country can protect these unique uplands alone.
The Heart of Borneo presents a unique opportunity to conserve pristine tropical rainforest on a huge scale – almost 30 per cent of the worlds third largest island.
But if the Heart of Borneo is going to happen, it has to be now or never.
At least 52 new species of animals and plants have been identified in 2006 on the island of Borneo, according to scientists. The discoveries, described in a report compiled by WWF, include 30 unique fish species, two tree frog species, 16 ginger
species, three tree species and one large-leafed plant species.
Yderligere information hos kommunikationsmedarbejder Constance Hegner, tlf: 35 24 78 36, mail: [email protected]
