Abstract
The conservation of tropical ecosystems is complex and contested, not least in terms of cultural and political perspectives between developed and developing nations (Bawa & Seidler, 1998; Colchester, 2000; Brosius & Hitchner, 2010). In Sabah, on the island of Borneo, Malaysia much of the forest has recently been converted to oil palm plantations. The plantations cover vast areas and leave relatively little space for native flora and fauna. Whilst efforts are underway to enhance biodiversity within the plantations, there is no clear consensus as to how this might best be achieved and this has led in part to divisions opening up amongst stakeholders (Othman & Ameer, 2009). A range of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working within Sabah endeavour to conserve threatened biodiversity; at the Governmental level there are significant drivers for development and economic stability; while the plantation owners are trying to improve their yields and increase their global market. There is also increasing consumer pressure in Europe and North America linked to concerns about the survival of iconic rainforest species such as orang-utans. This paper considers these issues within a context of globalisation and profound economic and social change within Malaysia.
Highlights
Large scale human disturbance, most of which has happened in the last 10 years, has lead to a situation where only 11.6% of Malaysia’s forest remain intact (Bhagwat & Willis 2008) and 70% of the total area set aside for agriculture, some 6.6 million ha, has been planted with oil palm
The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak occupy most of the Northern quarter of the island, whereas the four Kalimantan provinces belonging to Indonesia dominate the southern parts of the island
Malaysia has undergone an economic revolution since 1970 with poverty rates falling from 49% to less than 5% in 2007
Summary
Most of which has happened in the last 10 years, has lead to a situation where only 11.6% of Malaysia’s forest remain intact (Bhagwat & Willis 2008) and 70% of the total area set aside for agriculture, some 6.6 million ha, has been planted with oil palm. This has created a new, largely homogeneous landscape, with fragmentation of natural forest and correspondingly low levels of biodiversity (Bruhl et al 2003; Koh & Wilcove 2008). Economic development in these regions is likely to ELLIE LINDSAY ET AL
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