The WWF Projects

Protection for the largest rainforest in Asia - Borneo

During the last years the third biggest island of the world got known to the public because of the huge forest fires in 1997 and 1998. According to government informations, 5000 sqkm were destroyed in Kalimantan, the indonesian part of the island. But recent studies of satellite images show, that more than 50 000 sqkm were damaged- an area bigger than the netherlands. Almost nobody knows, that despite of this ecological disasters, there are still huge, almost untouched rainforest areas on Borneo.

Indonesia is behind Brazil and the Congo (Ex-Zaire), the country with most rainforest. In the northeast of Kalimantan the Kayan Mentarang Nationalpark is situated. This biggest protected rainforest in Indonesia was declared National Park in 19996. It covers 14 000 sqkm! Just by this number one can imagine the importance of this reserve. The big differences in altitude ranging from 200 to over 2500 m above sea level, create a lot of different habitats with specialiced plants and animals.

Plants and animals

Kalimantan is just after Irian Jaya the most biological diverse region of Indonesia. The different formations of tropical forest host 15 000 species of flowering plants. ( More than on the 40 times bigger african continent). 35% of the plant species are endemic, which means, that they can only be found on Borneo and no other place in the world. The wealth in mammals (222, 44 endemic) and bird species (420, 37 endemic) is immense, too. The diversity in fishes, amphibs and reptiles is the highest over the Sunda-Region. The lowland rainforests are home of most plant- and animal species.

Rafflesia- with a diameter of 1 m the largest flower of the world.

Over 200 tree species, can be found just on one hectare, more than all over Europe. The forests of the higher slopes host less species, but many of them are endemic. Of the animals which found a last refuge in Kayan Mentarang the Sumatran Rhino is the most spectacular and rare. Their horn is used since ever in traditional chinese medicine. Because of that even in Kayan Mentarang at most a few individuals have survived the intense chase. But the Banteng, a wild buffalo with attractive red skin, still roams the forest in greater numbers. Other bigger mammals include Sunbear, Clouded Leopard, Bearded Pigs and different monkeys.

Bearded pig

The bird life in the park is diverse, too. 238 species are counted, of which 35 exist only here. Probably the most conspicious are the Hornbills. They need their mighty beaks to feed from fruits. Of the flowering plants, Pitcher plants are quite common. They need insects for their diet, which are trapped in their large funnels.

Pitcher plant

But up to now not all species of the park are known. Especially of the smaller plants and animals, new species are discovered quite often.

The Dayak

Kayan Mentarang is not a totally unpopulated wilderness. Ancient tombstones witness, that people live in the area since prehistoric times. Today about 15 000 people from at least 12 ethnic groups call Kayan Mentarang their home. These tribes are known under the term Dayak and practice shifting cultivation. They cultivate mountain rice on the hill slopes. Gardens near their houses supply them with sweet potatoes, maniok and other crops. The Dayak have a close relation with the forest where they hunt, fish and collect plants.

Penan-Jäger

According to a recent study 213 plants are used as a natural pharmnacy. 62 wild plants are eaten. This becomes especially important, when the rice crop is bad. Collecting of some forest products like different resins and rattan was and is an important economic factor. On old trading routes even chinese porcelain found its way in the most remote villages, which are still accessible only on foot. One high priced product is gaharu, an incense wood, which is also used in traditional chinese medicine. For best qualities 500 US$/Kilo are paid. Edible swift nets are collected too, and served at the restaurants of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Threats

Despite its size Kayan Mentarang is no ecological paradise. The biggest single thread comes from the logging companys. Even now some concessions border the park. Without effective controls the reserve will not be spared from logging. If road building plans become reality, there will be massive negative changes because of settlers from outside and plantation companys. Mineral deposits like coal attract mining companys with all negative consequences. Collecting of forest products was always important. But the participation of commercial companys from outside already has led to overuse of some rattan species.

What is WWF doing?

To protect this unique area WWF has created a programme in cooperation with indonesian agencys. Not very long ago effecient conservation meant to ban people as far as possible from a reserve. Today WWF sees this totally different. Now the motto is " Conservation with and for people". The goal in Kayan Mentarang is to enable the long term coexistence of the 120 villages with the nature of the rainforest.

To achieve this three different zones were implemented: In the core zone any commercial use is not allowed. In the zone of traditional land use the Dayak can continue their traditional sustainable agriculture systems. And in the buffer zone some more intense uses, e.g. in rice growing are allowed.

The zoning was not made without the people who live there. Members of the village communities took part in the ecological inventories. Some locals were trained as research assistants. By this their rich traditional knowledge on the forest is connected with modern methods. The inventories in which the existing land use is documented, too, build the fundament of the Zonation. If there are different opinions a solution is searched together with WWF and Community.

It might sound unspectacular to us, but the involvement of the Dayak in park conservation, is a remarkable success in their struggle on acception of traditional land rights. In a country were almost all forests are under control of the government, the inhabitants of the region get a document, which accepts their landrights as a part of the government National Park managementplan. At the moment there is no official National Park administration at Kayan Mentarang. Therefore the Lalut Birai station of the WWF has especial importance in controlling the area. By radio the WWF staff can quickly inform about new threats to the park. For better research and control other stations are planned.