Table of Contents
Why is there so much deforestation in Borneo?
The leading reason for deforestation in Borneo is largely subsistence and agro-industrial agriculture. Subsistence agriculture mostly involves slash-and-burn practices from local communities. It requires low technology and is usually done on a rotation (or shifting) basis.
How bad is deforestation in Borneo?
Between 2000 and 2017, 6.04 million hectares of old-growth forest were lost in Borneo, a decline of 14%. About half of that area was ultimately converted to industrial plantations, and 92% of the forest that was converted was replaced with plantations within one year of being cleared, the study found.
How much of Borneo is deforested for palm oil?
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39% of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.
Why is Indonesian deforestation increasing?
Agricultural development and transmigration programs moved large populations into rainforest areas, further increasing deforestation rates. Logging and the burning of forests to clear land for cultivation has made Indonesia the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China and the United States.
How much of the Borneo rainforest has been destroyed?
30 percent
At least 30 percent of Borneo’s tropical forest have been destroyed over the last 40 years, including its carbon-rich peatlands that can store twice as much carbon as forests.
When did deforestation start in Borneo?
Deforestation only began in earnest during the mid-twentieth century. Industrial logging rose in the 1970s as Malaysia depleted its peninsular forests, and former Indonesian strongman President Suharto distributed large tracts of forest to cement political relationships with army generals.
How much of Borneo has been deforested?
For the first time, clear, transparent and precise figure about deforestation rates and extent in Borneo are made available. What do the data show? In 1973, Borneo was covered with 75.7% of forest; in 2010 this percentage was down to 52.8%.
What is happening to the Borneo rainforest?
The deforestation continued through the 2000s at a slower pace, alongside the expansion of palm oil plantations. Half of the annual global tropical timber procurement is from Borneo. Palm oil plantations are rapidly encroaching on the last remnants of primary rainforest. Much of the forest clearance is illegal.
Is Borneo in danger of a major fire?
In the highlands of the Heart of Borneo, the risks of fire are still small as few people live in this densely forested area. But with forest clearance progressing in several places in Borneo, the risk of fire is constantly increasing. Deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 20 per cent of global man-made CO2 emissions.
What are the different ecoregions of Borneo?
The World Wildlife Fund divides Borneo into a number of distinct ecoregions including the Borneo lowland rain forests which cover most of the island, with an area of 427,500 square kilometres (165,100 sq mi), the Borneo peat swamp forests, the Kerangas or Sundaland heath forests,…