Orangutan Land Trust
Encyclopedia
The Orangutan Land Trust is a UK charity with the objective of providing permanent solutions for the long-term survival of the orangutan
in the wild by ensuring safe areas of land for their continued existence. While there are projects that rescue and rehabilitate orangutans, there is an increasing scarcity of rainforest in which the orangutan can live and as a consequence the species is facing imminent extinction
. As Lone Drøscher Nielsen writes: "Securing safe forest habitat is the single-most important thing we can do to save the orangutan from extinction."
This view is also supported by the United Nations Environment Programme
, which states in its report that due to illegal logging, fire and extensive building of oil palm
plantations, orangutans are critically endangered, and if the current trend continues, they will become extinct.
is one of the Indonesian NGOs seeking ways of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). It has solicited the Department of Forestry for an Ecosystem Restoration Concession with the intention of using the forest area as a release site for rehabilitated orangutans from its Samboja Lestari
and Wanariset projects in East Kalimantan
(over 200 individuals). The proposed concession is 86,000 hectares of the ex-PT Mugi Triman International (MGI) timber concession.
in Central Kalimantan as an Ecosystem Restoration Concession, in order to provide sanctuary for at least 200 orangutans rescued and rehabilitated by
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
's Nyaru Menteng Project.
, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The Malua BioBank will restore and protect 34,000 hectares (80,000 acres) of critical orangutan habitat called the Malua Forest Reserve.
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
in the wild by ensuring safe areas of land for their continued existence. While there are projects that rescue and rehabilitate orangutans, there is an increasing scarcity of rainforest in which the orangutan can live and as a consequence the species is facing imminent extinction
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
. As Lone Drøscher Nielsen writes: "Securing safe forest habitat is the single-most important thing we can do to save the orangutan from extinction."
Habitat loss
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN/2004) included orangutans in the category of Critically Endangered. According to the IUCN, it is expected that in 10 to 30 years orangutans will be extinct if there is no serious effort to overcome the threats that the orangutans are facing.This view is also supported by the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
, which states in its report that due to illegal logging, fire and extensive building of oil palm
Oil palm
The oil palms comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to...
plantations, orangutans are critically endangered, and if the current trend continues, they will become extinct.
East Kalimantan Ecosystem Restoration Concessions
Borneo Orangutan SurvivalBorneo Orangutan Survival
The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian non-profit NGO founded by Dr Willie Smits in 1991 and dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Bornean Orangutan and its habitat through the involvement of local people...
is one of the Indonesian NGOs seeking ways of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). It has solicited the Department of Forestry for an Ecosystem Restoration Concession with the intention of using the forest area as a release site for rehabilitated orangutans from its Samboja Lestari
Samboja Lestari
Samboja Lestari is an area of restored tropical rainforest near the city of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia, created by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation led by Dr Willie Smits, with the aim of providing a safe haven for rehabilitated orangutans while at the same time...
and Wanariset projects in East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan is the second largest Indonesian province, located on the Kalimantan region on the east of Borneo island. The resource-rich province has two major cities, Samarinda and Balikpapan...
(over 200 individuals). The proposed concession is 86,000 hectares of the ex-PT Mugi Triman International (MGI) timber concession.
Cental Kalimantan Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Orangutan Land Trust are working with the Green Line Corporation in Indonesia to secure 80,000 hectares of mostly degraded and deforested peat forestBorneo peat swamp forests
The Borneo peat swamp forests ecoregion, within the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, are on the island of Borneo, which is divided between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.-Location and description:...
in Central Kalimantan as an Ecosystem Restoration Concession, in order to provide sanctuary for at least 200 orangutans rescued and rehabilitated by
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Borneo Orangutan Survival
The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian non-profit NGO founded by Dr Willie Smits in 1991 and dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Bornean Orangutan and its habitat through the involvement of local people...
's Nyaru Menteng Project.
Sabah, Malaysia
The Malua Wildlife Habitat Conservation Bank (Malua BioBank) is located next to one of the last areas of virgin rainforest in SabahSabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The Malua BioBank will restore and protect 34,000 hectares (80,000 acres) of critical orangutan habitat called the Malua Forest Reserve.
See also
- Borneo Orangutan Survival FoundationBorneo Orangutan SurvivalThe Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian non-profit NGO founded by Dr Willie Smits in 1991 and dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Bornean Orangutan and its habitat through the involvement of local people...
- Lone Drøscher Nielsen