Saving Borneo's Tropical Forests: A Global Imperative

The Dayak settlements in Krayan, the green and protected heart of Borneo, stand as proof that the Dayak people know how to care for their land. Yet the red scars of Borneo appear in the mining zones and oligarch-owned palm oil plantations.
Image credit: Eremespe.

In the heart of Southeast Asia, the island of Borneo stands as a verdant bastion against climate chaos, its ancient rainforests absorbing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and sustaining biodiversity on a scale unmatched elsewhere. Yet, this ecological powerhouse; often dubbed the "lungs of the world", faces an existential threat from unchecked deforestation, driven by industrial expansion and permissive government policies.

As Indonesia grapples with escalating environmental crises, from catastrophic floods in Sumatra to rampant land clearing in Kalimantan (Borneo's Indonesian portion), calls are growing for international intervention. If Jakarta cannot safeguard these vital ecosystems, advocates argue, global bodies like UNESCO and the United Nations must step in. This report draws on recent data, expert analyses, and on-the-ground accounts to explore the urgency of saving Borneo's forests, where the fate of humanity's shared atmosphere hangs in the balance.

The Lungs of the World Under Threat

Borneo's rainforests, spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, are among the oldest on Earth, dating back 140 million years. They cover roughly 287,000 square miles, with Indonesian Kalimantan accounting for the lion's share. These forests are not mere greenery; they function as a critical carbon sink, sequestering more CO2 per acre than even the Amazon in some studies. According to conservation groups, Borneo's ecosystems absorb billions of tons of greenhouse gases annually, helping regulate global temperatures and oxygen levels.

 "The lungs of the world" moniker isn't hyperbole: these forests produce oxygen essential for planetary life, while supporting over 15,000 plant species, 380 bird species, and iconic mammals like the Bornean orangutan, whose populations have plummeted 50% in the past two decades due to habitat loss.

But the threats are mounting. Since 2000, Borneo has lost forest cover equivalent to the size of Virginia each year, primarily to palm oil plantations, logging, and mining. In Indonesian Borneo alone, deforestation rates have surged since 2021, with more than 30,000 hectares cleared by pulp and paper giants in the last three years, often with official approval. This destruction releases stored carbon, exacerbating climate change. A 2025 Nature Conservancy video series highlighted how Kalimantan's forests, if fragmented further, could tip global warming thresholds, affecting weather patterns from Asia to the Americas. Experts like Aida Greenbury, a sustainability advocate, warn that without intervention, "the voiceless" ecosystems and species will vanish, leaving humanity without this natural buffer against environmental collapse.

The human cost is equally stark. Indigenous communities, such as the Dayak people, rely on these forests for food, medicine, and cultural identity. Yet, as trees fall, so do livelihoods. A 2025 report from the Borneo Nature Foundation estimates that 80% of local diets and 25% of modern medicines derive from rainforest biodiversity. If these "lungs" fail, as one WWF official put it in 2012, "the plan ensuring that local ecosystems are protected" will crumble, leading to irreversible global repercussions. The stakes? Without Borneo's carbon absorption, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss could accelerate, endangering billions.

Lessons from Sumatra's Catastrophes

The warnings from nearby Sumatra are impossible to ignore. In late November 2025, Tropical Cyclone Senyar unleashed torrential rains, triggering floods and landslides that killed over 1,250 people across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia's Sumatra bearing the brunt: at least 442 fatalities, 2,600 injuries, and 504 missing in North Sumatra alone. About 3.2 million people were affected, with one million evacuated amid scenes of submerged villages and mud-choked rivers. Officials attribute the disaster's severity to deforestation: over 260,000 hectares lost in 2024, stripping the land of natural barriers against erosion and flooding.

Climate experts link these events to broader patterns. "Lost trees turned extreme rain into catastrophe," noted a 2025 analysis, as deforested slopes fail to absorb water, amplifying runoff. Sumatra's palm oil and mining booms mirror Borneo's trajectory, where similar land conversion has already caused peatland fires and habitat fragmentation. In Borneo, experts fear a repeat: rising deforestation could exacerbate floods, given the island's similar topography and monsoon vulnerability. A recent X post from an environmental activist highlighted the irony: "Sumatra is plagued by natural disasters and rampant illegal black mining... Indonesia’s darker reality."

The Indonesian government has pledged investigations into environmental factors, but critics argue it's too little, too late. In Borneo, where peatlands store immense carbon, fires like those in Sumatra's 2019 haze crisis could become annual horrors, releasing emissions equivalent to entire nations' outputs. As one survivor in Central Tapanuli Regency told Al Jazeera, "The mountains are bare now; the water comes faster." For Borneo, Sumatra's floods serve as a grim preview: without halting deforestation, Kalimantan's rivers could overflow, displacing millions and destroying irreplaceable wildlife corridors.

Permissive Policies: Indonesia's Forestry Ministry in the Spotlight

At the core of Borneo's crisis lies Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry, accused of issuing permits with scant regard for ecological impacts. In January 2025, the forestry minister proposed converting 20 million hectares—nearly 50 million acres—of forest for crops and biofuels, a move that could accelerate deforestation in Kalimantan. Analysis from groups like Auriga Nusantara shows rates climbing yearly since 2021, with industrial concessions for pulp, paper, and palm oil leading the charge.

Historical data paints a damning picture. From 2004 to 2009, permits covered 600,000 hectares in Borneo, often without adequate environmental assessments. A 2011 Forest Ministry admission pegged losses from illegal conversions at $36 billion in Indonesian Borneo alone. Recent cases, like a 350,000-acre concession in West Kalimantan for logging destined for U.S. RVs, underscore the ministry's lax enforcement. New regulations even allow protected areas to be cleared for farmland, bypassing longstanding bans.

Public outcry is swelling. On X, users decry plans to clear rainforests "half the size of Switzerland" in Papua, echoing Borneo's plight, while villages sell pristine tracts for biomass—worse than coal in emissions. Critics, including Indigenous leaders, argue these policies prioritize short-term profits over sustainability. A 2025 study on forest permits found direct links to deforestation spikes, urging reforms. Without accountability, Borneo's forests risk becoming plantations, fueling global markets at the expense of local and planetary health.

Calling for International Intervention: UNESCO and the UN's Role

If Indonesia falters, the world must act. Proposals for UNESCO biosphere reserves and UN protections are gaining traction. In 2025, UNESCO designated Malaysia's Kinabatangan floodplain a reserve, linking it to Borneo's core and raising hopes for broader coverage. Global Conservation extended protections for Sabah's DaMaI Rainforest Complex through 2026, safeguarding 378,000 euros' worth of habitat with new funding.

Under the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity, nations pledged 30% global land protection by 2030, yet Borneo lags. Indigenous Dayak groups resist new parks without consultation, but advocates like Rainforest Trust push for stakeholder-driven scenarios. The Heart of Borneo initiative, backed by WWF, outlines 21 actions for transboundary conservation. Cornell Lab's decades-long efforts emphasize birds as indicators for forest health.

On X, voices like Yashar Ali highlight palm oil's toll: 32 million acres destroyed across Indonesia and Malaysia. UNEP's 2023 call for hope in conserving "living, breathing wonders" resonates amid Sumatra's floods. Extending Sumatra's Tropical Rainforest Heritage boundaries could include Borneo, per UNESCO proposals. As one activist tweeted, "The scenes from Indonesia are horrific"—a plea for global guardianship.

In sum, saving Borneo's forests demands urgent, collaborative action. Failure isn't an option; the world's lungs are at stake.