A Paradise of Biological Wonder

FACTSHEET HoB 2018 Heart of Borneo A paradise of Biological Wonder

© WWF-MALAYSIA / LEE SHAN KHEE AN ESTIMATED Borneo, the world’s third largest island, is a The HoB plays a critical role in securing treasure trove for biodiversity and natural re- water services and carbon stock, preserv- 6% OF GLOBAL sources. An estimated 6% of global biodiver- ing biodiversity, ecosystem connectivity and BIODIVERSITY sity resides in the forests that still cover half building resilience to climate change for the RESIDES IN THE of its surface. Much of this lies in the Heart of sustainable development of the whole island Borneo, an approximately 23 million of hect- of Borneo and its people. This area also plays FORESTS THAT ares belt of tropical rainforest that covers the a vital function as a water catchment for the STILL COVER HALF territories of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia island. and Malaysia and provide ecosystem services OF ITS SURFACE to 11 million Bornean people. WWF identifies Borneo as one of its top global conservation targets and channels its sup- This immense natural capital is under threat port to the HoB Initiative through the WWF

Brunei Darussalam because of deforestation and development Heart of Borneo Programme – a partnership driven by unsustainable exploitation and of WWF-Indonesia and WWF-Malaysia. Malaysia poor governance of natural resources. Borneo has now lost half of its historical forest cover

and rapid deforestation continues inside Country Width

Indonesia and outside the Heart of Borneo, a process (hectare) (%) that threatens species survival and under- mines the wellbeing of future generations in Total Brunei Darussalam 409,861.08 1.75% Borneo. Belait 264,005.36 1.13%

Temburong 94,784.80 0.40% In 2007, the three Bornean governments Tutong 51,070.91 0.22% recognized these threats and launched the trilateral Heart of Borneo Initiative, balanc- Total Indonesia 16,890,809.92 71.09% ing biodiversity conservation with sustain- West Kalimantan 4,916,316.41 20.98%

able economic production for the benefit of Central Kalimantan 3,008,377.28 12.84% people and nature alike. East Kalimantan 3,756,672.88 16.03%

The Heart of Borneo is an initiative of Brunei North Kalimantan 5,209,443.35 22.23% Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to pre- Total Malaysia 6,130,943.50 26.17%

serve one of Borneo’s best remaining rain- Sarawak 2,187,949.99 9.34% forests and water catchments in the interior Sabah 3,942,993.50 16.83% of the island for the welfare of present and future generations. Total HoB 23,431,614.49 100% THE THREATS TO BORNEO © WWF-INDONESIA / STEPHAN WULFFRAAT

The natural assets of the HoB are invaluable, and so are the The Environmental Status Executive Summary Report 2016 stated that the social and cultural assets of its population, especially the 1 threats currently facing Borneo’s eco- million indigenous people who directly depend on forests for systems are: their livelihoods, food, income, water and culture, and have FIRE. Fires are a major threat, particu- contributed to maintaining the forests and preserving the rich larly to peat swamp forests and lowland rainforests and especially at the edges and extraordinary biodiversity of the Heart of Borneo based of oil palm plantation areas, where their ‘accidental’ nature must be questioned on their customary regulations and conservation values. as they pave the way for further development of the existing plantations. Compared to other areas in the same survival of local communities and region, the forests of Borneo are still the economies – both national and in relatively good condition, covering regional – of Brunei Darussalam, the about half of the island. However, the Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, same pressures and threats that have and the Malaysian states of Sabah driven deforestation and biodiversity and Sarawak. loss in other parts of Asia are catch- LAND CONVERSION. Expansion of oil ing up fast in Borneo. palm and pulpwood plantations and large areas of natural forest destruction inside mining concessions, are major factors in Borneo is in danger of losing its the continued deterioration of Bornean major ecosystems and the valuable ecosystems. ecoservices they provide which are critical to the long-term

BORNEO FOREST COVER 2015 INADEQUATE SPATIAL PLANNING. The lack of coordinated spatial planning has resulted in allocation of licenses into environmentally sensitive areas as well as habitats for species that include orangutans, elephants, rhino and irrawaddy dolphin. WWF IN BORNEO © WWF-INDONESIA / SUGENG HENDRATNO Borneo is recognized as one of WWF’s global priority places. WWF has been active in Borneo for several decades through its national offices in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Heart of Borneo Initiative will FOOD - Managing sustainably agri- significanly contribute to WWF culture production to ensure biodi- Global Conservation targets, versity conservation, resilience to such as: climate change, and benefits to rural communities. © WWF-INDONESIA / OKTA SIMON FORESTS - Preserving natural capital by enlarging and restoring GOVERNANCE - Engaging civil connectivity between protected area society and empowering indigenous networks and larger landscape forest communities to secure their rights to ecosystems, therefore, providing the continue to manage sustainably the foundation to fulfil our other goals. natural capital of the island based on the social capital of the traditional WILDLIFE - Promoting effective knowledge and practices of the Indig- conservation of key species like enous Peoples. orangutans, elephants, clouded leop- ards, proboscis monkeys, Sumatran CLIMATE CHANGE - Protecting rhinoceros and Irrawaddy dolphins. forest and promoting sustainable management of forest resources to WATER - The HoB will promote retain our vast forest and therefore efforts in protecting key watershed will be contributing towards resil- areas and securing the provision of ience in climate change adaptation water ecosystem services. and mitigation.

THE SIX WWF HEART OF BORNEO 3. The Brunei – Sabah – Sarawak – 6. The Katingan Landscape: PRIORITY LANDSCAPES North Kalimantan Transboundary Maintaining connectivity for move- Landscape: ments of orangutans and dispersal of These six landscapes cover around 10 Managing intact forests and restoring endangered wildlife between Seban- million hectares area and represents degraded forest along and outside a gau National Park and the Schwanner HOB’s main principal idea, conserva- network of the eight protected areas Highlands with peatland area (Seban- tion cooperation and transboundary with stringent conservation measures gau National Park) in the lowland. sustainable development. for wildlife corridors and Payment for Ecosystem Services. 1. The Crocker Range – Protected Areas Central Forest Landscape: 4. The Sarawak – West Kalimantan HoB Boundaries Leveraging on flagship species of Transboundary Landscape (Batang orangutan and Borneo elephant to Ai – Lanjak Entimau – Betung anchor areas vital for sanctuaries and Kerihun – Danau Sentarum): wildlife corridors. Green economy demonstrating how sustainable economnic development 2. The Transboundary Elephant can be integrated with conservation. Landscape (Southern Part of Sabah and North Kalimantan): 5. The Muller – Schwanner – Conserving Borneo elephant by Arabela Landscape: improving protection and manage- Empowering local people to be en- ment with key government agencies vironmental stewards; transforming and private sectors across Sabah and business to adopt sustainable com- North Kalimantan. modity productions. HEART OF BORNEO FACTSHEET 2018 HoB WWF.PANDA.ORG/BORNEO SOURCES PAPER FROM FROM PAPER RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE For more information, please contact: please information, more For Wibisono Iwan Heart of Borneo Leader WWF-Indonesia [email protected] Email: Clearing government policy and regulation framework toward and regulation framework toward policy Clearing government to incentivized of sustainable HoB that support policies capital. management of natural Agenda. HoB is under ASEAN development plan accepted a Sustainable infrastructure By 2020, for the HoB. national and international level. the local, Promoting HoB into to drive behavioural change. Establishing the conditions required positive impacts) of impacts (and promote Reducing negative business on natural capital. of behavioural change on Measuring and reporting on the impacts natural capital. development. Improving community livelihood/economy management. Increasing area under full/partial community in the HoB. Strengthening the CSOs/CBOs Network species in the six priority The populations and habitats of the key managed. landscapes are protected and/or sustainably The endangered ecosystems in the six priority landscapes are no longer threatened by conversion. The environmental status of Borneo is effectively monitoring for practical applications. GOAL 1: TRANSFORMATIONAL OF POLICY FRAMEWORKS OF POLICY TRANSFORMATIONAL 1: GOAL • • • • OF BUSINESS BEHAVIOUR 2: TRANSFORMATION GOAL • • • SOCIETY 3: EMPOWERING CIVIL GOAL • • • CAPITAL NATURAL 4: PRESERVING GOAL • • • Why we are here stop theTo degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. wwf.panda.org/borneo