Protected areas
A growing collection of green gems
Well-managed protected areas are at the core of the Heart of Borneo programme. With a network of functioning nature reserves, parks, and responsibly-managed logging concessions, there are vastly improved chances that the Heart of Borneo can meet ecological and economic needs.
Here we take a closer look at one of the links in this network: the Muller Mountains, an area which is in the process of being designated as a national park.
Mountains of wonders
The Muller Mountains represent one of the few remaining tracts of intact forest in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and play a vital role as a watershed for 3 of Borneo's mighty rivers: the Kapuas, the Barito and the Mahakam.In these forests, white-fronted langurs (Presbytis frontata) and bornean gibbons (Hylobates species) still swing from trees, carnivores such as sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) sunbath in the nooks of branches, while clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) and marbled cats (Pardofelis marmorata) prowl down below.
Overhead, birds such as the helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) and the rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) fly low over the rainforest canopy.
A giant leap for protected areas in Malaysia
In March 2006, Malaysia announced that it was placing 3 forest reserves under sustainable forest management. Two of the 3 Forest Reserves, Ulu Segama and Malua Forest Reserves, are part of the proposed Heart of Borneo area. This is an inestimable contribution to the Heart of Borneo, as conserving these areas will protect the habitat of Borneo species such as the orang-utan, pygmy elephant, rhino and banteng.
More successes
More successes
A place of transit for departed souls
The region is also home to Dayak tribes who rely on forests for subsistence. But there are also spiritual linkages: places such as Lumut Mountain are held sacred by Dayak communities who follow the Hindu Kaharingan religion.The mountain is considered to be a place of transit for departed souls before they proceed to heaven (nirwana) and ritual ceremonies are still held there.
A special status for a unique place
To ensure that these mountains continue to play their special ecological and religious and roles, WWF is working with NGO partners and advocating with governments to designate the areas as national parks.The local government, along with concerned communities, has submitted an application to UNESCO to designate the area as a World Heritage Site. There is strong justification for this proposal. Research carried out by the has shown that Gunung Muller is an ecologically rich area that meets the criteria to be proposed as a World Heritage Site, and to be managed as a National Park or other alternative management unit.
Designating Muller as a national park
The next stage in the process requires the local government to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Forestry with an assessment of the ecosystem and a socio-economic overview of the region.WWF commissioned the University of Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan) to undertake the socio-economic study, including an assessment on the stakeholders’ perception of the nomination of the proposed protected areas. The results showed that people are overwhelmingly in favour of the nomination.
