12 Jan 2007 - Cebu, Philippines – A historic agreement
to conserve the “Heart of Borneo” was officially endorsed
today by the heads of the three Bornean governments — Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
A statement by leaders attending the Summit of the Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) outlined the importance of one of the most important
centres of biological diversity in the world, covering approximately
220,000km2 of equatorial rainforests and numerous wildlife
species.
“We congratulate the three governments of Borneo for the
groundbreaking conservation pledge they have made,” said
Dr Mubariq Ahmad, WWF-Indonesia’s Executive Director.
“This shared vision will enhance the collaboration between
the respective countries to promote sustainable development,
protect vital natural resources and reduce poverty.”
The agreement, endorsed at the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Summit being
hosted by the Philippines, is a lifeline for the people
and wildlife of Borneo that are threatened by increasing
deforestation on the island. The Heart of Borneo is one
of only two places on the planet where rhinos, elephants
and orang-utans coexist. Since 1996, deforestation due to
logging, forest fires and forest conversion for plantations
across Indonesia has increased to an average of 2 million
hectares per year, and today, only half of Borneo’s original
forest cover remains.
“The Heart of Borneo harbours up to six per cent of the
world’s total biodiversity,” said Dr Dino Sharma Executive
Director of WWF-Malaysia.
“The highlands and adjacent foothills along the borders
of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia are vital for the people
of Borneo. The Heart of Borneo is the source of 14 of the
island’s 20 major rivers and conserving this precious region
is essential for safeguarding the water and food security
for the people of Borneo.”
Borneo is home to 13 primate species, more than 350 bird
species, 150 reptiles and amphibians and around 15,000 species
of plants, and continues to be the source of many new discoveries
— three species have been found every month over the past
ten years alone.
WWF has supported the three governments in their desire
to conserve the “Heart of Borneo – three countries, one
conservation vision” since the announcement of their joint
intention at a meeting of the UN Convention on Biodiversity
in Brazil in March 2006. It is expected that the ministers
of the three Bornean countries will sign the declaration
at a ceremony during the first quarter of 2007.
“WWF considers the Heart of Borneo to be one of the planet’s
top global conservation priorities,” said James Leape, WWF
International’s Director General.
“It is hugely important to maintain a large enough area
of Borneo’s forests for the survival of the natural ecosystems
and the people that depend on them. This is critical for
sustainable development, and WWF stands ready to assist
Borneo’s three governments in realizing the commitment they
have made today.”
END NOTES:
• The text of the Joint Leaders Statement for Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Philippines – East ASEAN Growth AREA Summit
(BIMP-EAGA) was as follows:
We welcomed and endorsed the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative
to establish a network of protected areas, productive forests
and other land-uses, that transcends across the borders
of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia, and which
aims to maximize transboundary linkages, promotes the expansion
of the Protected Areas, maintains forest connectivity and
ensures sustainable land use practices. We will ensure an
effective management, development and conservation of the
areas, which they will designate as the HoB, within their
own existing respective legal and institutional frameworks,
with full respect to each country sovereignty and territorial
boundaries and without prejudice to the ongoing negotiations
on land boundary demarcation.
• At the 11th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December
2005, the Heart of Borneo was highlighted in the Chairman’s
Statement endorsing the establishment of a transboundary
network of protected areas in the Heart of Borneo. This
meeting is the highest decision-making organ of ASEAN and
the Chairman’s Statement is the official record of the meeting
and is endorsed by all ASEAN heads of government.
• The Heart of Borneo is also a flagship programme of the
five-year action plan of BIMP-EAGA. This plan is endorsed
by the heads of government of all four countries.
Stuart Chapman, International Coordinator
WWF Heart of Borneo Programme
Olivier van Bogaert, Senior Press Officer
WWF International
