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Orang-utan Appeal:
Protecting Critical Corridors for Orang-utans in Borneo
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The River Kinabatangan floodplain, in the federal State of Sabah in Malaysia. Here oil palm plantations are a grave threat to the rainforests and the species living within them. See a larger image here.
Of all parts of the great tropical island of Borneo, the Malaysian federal State of Sabah contains the greatest diversity of wild fauna. I urge your support for this project.
Earl of Cranbrook MA PhD PNBS(Hon), Author of Mammals of Borneo
Read this quote in full: The importance of preserving forests in Borneo
A Life-line to save Orang-utans in Borneo
The WLT Orang-utan Appeal, launched in July 2008, aims to raise £343,000 to save a priceless piece of forest in Malaysian Borneo and the Orang-utans which live in it. In the first three months, tremendous support was received for this vital project, raising over a third of the funding needed. This has enabled negotiations to move to the next level and WLT now has until the end of the year to raise the remainder of funds needed. Our appeal is still very urgent. Will you help? Make a donation through JustGiving.com.
Learn more about the Orang-utan Appeal and read the background to this project. For the latest projects update, see our projects news section.
Why protect the forests of Borneo?
Borneo: A biodiversity hotspot
The ‘old world’ rainforests of Borneo are known to be some of the richest in the world and home to a great diversity of species, such as the Bornean Orang-utan, the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, Malayan Sun-bear and the Bornean Clouded Leopard.
Borneo’s vast biodiversity boasts:
- 15,000 plant species;
- 220 mammal species;
- Over 434 species of breeding birds out of a total of 622 species recorded;
- 250 species of reptiles & amphibians.
Over 60% of plants found in Borneo are endemic to the island, and 361 new species to science have been discovered in recent times, with 52 species discovered during the 2005/2006 period alone.
Habitat loss in Borneo
The most significant threat facing Borneo’s biodiversity is forest destruction, primarily due to commercial logging and conversion to Oil Palm, a trend that is rapidly increasing in response to the global demand for oil. It is estimated that by 2020, only 32.6% of Borneo’s forests will remain. Habitat loss on this scale could lead to the extinction of many of the island’s ‘flagship’ species, and worst-case scenario predictions indicate that if forest destruction continues the Orang-utan could be virtually extinct in many areas within the next decade.
What the World Land Trust is doing to help
Working with Malaysian LEAP Conservancy, WLT is raising funds to create corridors to protect vital pieces of rainforest and to ensure continuous habitat for orang-utans and other wildlife. The focus is on the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain, Sabah, Malaysia, an area that is home to a strong-hold population of Bornean Orang-utan as well as an array of other species.
The greatest issue that this project faces is one of time. Due to ongoing rapid conversion of forest to oil palm, efforts must be made as soon as possible to ensure that habitat fragmentation is reduced or stopped.
The Orang-utan Appeal was set up to raise the funds needed to create these forest corridors. Funds are also being raised by WLT corporate supporters The Marshall of Cambridge Group of Companies, through their Cambridge Rainforest Appeal.
Take Action:
- Donate: Please support our urgent Orang-utan Appeal: Make a donation through JustGiving.com. (To make a gift donation to the Orang-utan Appeal please call the WLT office.)
- Get the latest project updates »
Learn More:
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Sir David Attenborough, World Land Trust Patron
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Project brief
