Biodiversity provides a valuable service to the people of Borneo and has the potential to be of even greater significance in the future. This page will explore the role that the island's biodiversity has to play in the well being of its people, and also how the benefits of the vast range of species on this island stretches to others across the world.
Examples of Biodiversity in Borneo
List facts/give information source
Borneo is comprises of 17.7 million humans, 15,000 plant species, more than 1,400 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles and insects. - Wikipedia (Rach)
There are about 221 species of terrestrial mammals and 420 species of resident birds in Borneo.- Borneoproject.org (Maria)
The island as a whole is conservatively estimated to contain 15,000 plant species, 3,000 species of trees, more than 1,700 species of orchid sand more than 50 carnivorous pitcher plant species. - WWF.
Fedora
The island of Borneo is home to more than 2000 types of trees and rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. -WWF(Fairuz)
The Borneo rainforest is over 130 million years old, making it the oldest rainforest in the world - Wikipedia (Sam)
The biodiversity is increasing as the organisms have found their own favorite habitat to live in Borneo.E.g.orangutans exist only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra because they depend on forests for fruits and shelters.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_of_Borneo-Denny
Borneo (Kalimantan) is the third largest island in the world. It is rich with a variety of indigenous orchid species that grow in the forests. It has been estimated that 2500 to 3000 orchid species grow in the forests of Borneo.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110628095035.htmRafi
There is still many undiscovered species in Borneo. One of the recent new species discovered in Borneo is the lungless frog, which can fly. (Evolution)- Wikipedia (Nina)
Oil plant Plantations cover up to 15% of Sabahs land, here it has been recorded that there are up to 23 non-forestry ant species. The majority of these are invasive species which could have an impact on the ecology of the area, especially if there were to infiltrate the forest. http://homepage.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/thomas.eltz/bilderE/pdfE/Fuelling%20the%20crisis.pdf (Becky)
Surveys have found more than 700 species of trees in a 10 hectare plot — a number equal to the total number of trees in Canada and the United States combined. http://www.mongabay.com/borneo.html - Xing
Borneo's forests are some of the most biodiverse on the planet.The island is estimated to have at least 222 species of mammals, 420 resident birds, 100 amphibians, 394 fish, and 15,000 plants.
scientist in borneo have discovered 123 new amazing species, including world's largest insect - a stick insect 22 inches in length. (Ashraf)
Borneo is home to the worlds largest flower, the Rafflesia. The flower may be over 100 centimetres (39 in) in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb)
Species becoming extinct. - Rach Biodiversity on Borneo is very important to maintain as the island is home to more than 1,400 species of animals and at least 15,000 species of plants. However, many of these species have become endangered else where in the world, but remain in Borneo. These animals include the orangutan and pigmy elephant which are only found on Borneo and Sumatra. They are under threat as a result of deforestation due to oil palm plantations. The huge biodiversity of the plants in the rainforest allows for many species of animals to be dependent on them, as well as other animal species (many different trophic levels are able to develop) However the deforestation causes a decrease in the number of plant species, therefore decreasing the number of trophic levels - decreasing biodiversity. This has become increasingly threatening for the orangutan due to their eating habits - most fruit found in the forest,as well as their living and shelter, these have both been destroyed therefore leaving the orangutan without food or shelter, causing them to slowly die out.
Medicinal Purposes - Fedora Rainforests currently provide sources for a quarter of today's prescription drugs. Rainforests contain 70% of plants which have anti-cancer properties, whereby 25% of the active ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from these plants. Almost 90% of people in developing countries still rely on traditional medicine, based largely on different species of plants and animals, for their primary health care. In Borneo, the indigenous people (Dayak, Penan, Iban, Madurese) rely on 6,500 species for medicinal purposes. The bintangor is a tree found only on swampy ground in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The indigenous people use its bark to help soothe headaches and skin rashes. The bintangor is currently being tested for HIV and AIDS cures. While, the roots of the Tongkat Ali plant are widely used traditionally as an aphrodisiac and to lower high blood pressure. Therefore, biodiversity is important in Borneo in order for these plant species to survive as they are believed to be the key towards unlocking new cures for devastating diseases.
Agriculture - Sam Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. With a larger number of species (greater biodiversity), it leads to a wider variety of crops which are able to be harvested by indigenous tribes around Borneo (Dayak, Iban, Penan and Maduresse). Farmers and crop breeders, for example, need large gene pools from which to produce disease resistant and high-yielding seeds to counter famine and feed the traditional and sustainable way of living in the Borneo rainforest. Especially with the increase in logging taking place in Borneo, there reduction in trophic levels will have a knock on effect, decreasing the number of plant species, ultimately decreasing biodiversity. This may become a growing worry for farmers and crop breeders as the damage to biodiversity may cause harvest to fall annually.
Future Uses- Harun
Borneo is already an important research field for many biologists and scientists. Keeping a high biodiversity on Borneo is of the utmost importance as the research and investigation of the many newly discovered species on Borneo can prove to be the spearhead of future research in medicine, agriculture biotechnology and environmental issues including environmental protection and soft engineering. This point can be made because we can learn many things from the rainforest on Borneo in terms of how each species interact with one another and to what extent is this interaction the cause of such an immense biodiversity on Borneo and how these interactions can cause the creation of resources that a far superior to what we currently use. One example of such would be the buttress roots as we could be able to take from how they support the bigger trees and use that idea for our own architectural needs.
Education- Denny
Borneo is a scientific frontier for environmentalists for a large number of reasons. There are still millions of undiscovered species of both plants and animals, that are still waiting to be found. Every year, hundreds of different species are found in Borneo. In order for us to study the species, Borneo itself must be preserved properly to allow different species to thrive and adapt to the current environment. Therefore, by understanding the many different species of plants and animals on the island, we will be able to learn ways on how they adapt to the environment, and also how we can help to make sure their habitats are not affected for the worse. For example, a lungless frog was found, by accident, in a clear, cold water stream on the island of Borneo. In addition to this, with the help of the many countries that help make up Borneo, such as Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, their governments have decided to protect and conserve 220,000 km sq of rainforest on the island.
Tourism and Recreation- Maria
Biodiversity is increasingly important to the island of Borneo as it plays a crucial role in the areas tourism and recreation industry. The unique habitat and wildlife, which include the endangered orangutan and pygmy elephant, enhance visitor’s aesthetic experience, providing a large range of activities. Tourism is fast emerging as a new engine of growth in Borneo, as there is much to be found on the island that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The conservation of its forests, rivers and environment is vital for further development of this industry, which has the potential to bring in significant direct foreign investment for the creation of hotels, shopping malls, groceries and the many other services required to support this industry. This foreign investment can act as a catalyst for growth in the many other areas that will stem from the influx of tourists. The creation of these industries will in turn provide employment for the local population.
Biodiversity offers protection- Rafi
The benefits that we gain from biodiversity go far beyond the mere provision of raw materials. Already, protected areas through the vegetation they contain, store 15% of the world’s terrestrial carbon. They have enormous untapped potential considering that as much as 20% of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and other land use changes. Biodiversity loss has negative effects on our health, material wealth and it largely limits our freedom of choice. Borneo is an excellent example of this as 50% of Borneo is covered in rainforest that not only protect and feeds its native people (such as ibans and dayaks) it protects the residents living on the island it provides the people a balance of living by giving a protected environment.
Carbon Sequestration- Hau Wei
Plant species in the heart of Borneo absorbs carbon dioxide through the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis and then stores it in the form of organic matter in plant and root biomass. As these organic material decays and soil organics form a large carbon pool in peatlands and soil they provide an important carbon sequestration or storage that helps to mitigate climate change. While in soil, these carbon pools increases the nutrient and water retention capacity and also protects groundwater from contamination.
Tourism and the economy - Rocio One of the reasons why biodiversity is so important, especially for humans is that many recreational areas benefit from a healthy ecosystem, which promotes tourism. This can be applied to Borneo as countries like Brunei are looking into eco-tourism which would require people visiting the rainforest (Temburong) in order to see the different wildlife and plant species. If the biodiversity is lost not only will it be damaging for the environement (less CO2 absorption, more surface run-off) but it will also have a negative effect on tourism and the economy as people will no longer be interested in visiting these areas. Therefore, less tourists, less jobs, lower incomes causing a negative multiplier effect.
Natural Service- FairuzBiodiversity has many functions, including as a provider of natural service. For example, trees and plants can absorb and lock in carbon dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. Other than that, tree roots also functions to hold soils together from erosion. A healthy biodiverse ecosystem demonstrates its ability to recover quickly from natural disasters and also provide a variety of food and medicine for humans. However, nowadays there are many major threats to the biodiversity such as overfishing, invasive species and habitat destruction which affect the existing ecosystem and cause negative multiplier effect to out economy and social well being
Employment and the Economy- ClarissaBiodiversity, specifically forest and marine employment is important as it provides jobs for millions of people globally. From fishermen to woodcutters, without a rich biodiversity, there would be a lack of jobs available, mostly in the primary sectors, this in turn would have an effect on the livelihood of many people. Borneo's diverse forests provide many products, whether pharmaceutical or for cosmetics. Furthermore, significance of Bornean Rainforests for eco and adventure tourism means that locals benefit through the multiplier effect as more jobs are created in the service industry. However, too much tourists could also create issues for biodiversity.
Native People - Nazihah
The native farming population of Borneo is usually referred to collectively as ‘Dayak’ with roughly 7 main groups in total. These native people benefit from high biodiversity as the forest provides them with a source of living; either through the food they eat such as deers and bearded pigs, or through their housing units which consists mostly of longhouses constructed from natural materials found in the forest itself. These indigenous groups of Borneo often rely heavily on the resources in which the forest provides them with, causing access to natural resources to become territorial. For example, in order to fish within a specific stretch of river, communities are required to claim the right for any of their other members. Also, community members often need to seek approval from others before old growth trees within the community limits as some individuals consider old growth forest that surrounds them as their own property. It is evident that the forest is a symbol of heritage for these indigenous tribes thus illustrating the importance of a rich biodiversity as it sustains their culture and way of life.
Feeding the world - Wajihah
Biodiveristy is essential for global food security and nutrtion and as a source of income opportunities for the poor households. Natural predators such as bees and birds help reduce pests that destroy crops. The crops are also pollinated by insects, birds and other animals, this helps to provide genetic diversity to resist diseases and pests.
The poor households do not have to rely on pesticides and expensive fertilisers. Unfortunately, industrial scale agriculture has led to a dramatic reduction in the genetic diversity. Only a handful of species are now used to produce about 90% of all human food. As a result, thousands of non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with the valuable genetic diversity they contained. However, these food industries can learn from the rural communities who have found ways to integrate their food production with ecosystem stewardship. Increased food production and biodiversity conservation can go hand-in-hand.
Climate Stability - Becky
There is evidence to suggest that an undisturbed rainforest is able to maintain the rainfall in an area because the trees effectively recycle it. This is by absorbing the fallen rain through its roots and it evaporating off the leaves after transpiration. This cycle is effective as the continuous recycling of rainfall provides agricultural land further inland with rain. As Borneo has roughly 427,500 square kilometres of rainforest the amount of rainfall recycled is substantial, as it keeps the whole island well hydrated and the forests rich. If the amount level of deforestation increases, especially in the coastal regions, the effects could be disastrous as it would result in an increase of flooding and a decrease in the health of the forests. And as the biodiversity hotspot map suggests the main reason for the high levels of biodiversity in the tropical regions is the climate (temperature and rainfall) in the tropical rainforest.
Cultural Importance - Xing
Many of the plants and animals are often used as symbols for groups of people; for example in the form of flags, songs, legends, paintings, sculptures, stamps. Biodiversity contributes to the culture of a society as it makes it special or unique, it may also be one of the few things that 'tie' together a community. The national animal of Malaysia is the Malayan tiger (also depicted on the coat of arms in Malaysia) and the national flower of Malaysia is the Hibiscus. Also biodiversity is aesthetically beautiful (pleasure to see nature/wildlife), which a society may be proud of. Biodiversity is also associated with many indigenous tribes in Borneo, for example, the Dayak people were animist in belief. Meaning they had a set of beliefs on the existence of non-human 'spiritual beings' (may be in the animals, plants, rocks and other entities of the natural environment).
Psychological well-being- Brian A recent study has shown that green spaces with a higher level of biodiversity may improve mental health, which may consequently improve mood, relieve stress, increase lifespan and improve cognitive abilities. A research team investigated 34 study sites in Sheffield, UK, surveying bird, butterfly and plant populations and species in order to measure biodiversity and interview visitors, and found that people responded positively to a higher perceived level of biodiversity, reporting a “restorative nature”, which helps visitors bounce back from mental fatigue. They also reported the importance of biodiversity to a space’s identity and the relative importance to the people who have lived in the area for many years.
Flood prevention and reducing erosion - Amal
The movement of water into rivers and other waterways is modulated by forest vegetation. Vegetation increases the ability of soils to retain water, preventing floods and erosion. Since a forest can intercept as much as 50% of the rainfall, it will prevent much soil loss which might otherwise occur from the impact of rain on the land surface. Water passes from rainforests into rivers and streams with much less force, reducing erosion and the threat of floods.
Examples:
Starting in 1994, people in Vietnam began planting mangrove forests in order to protect against storms. During the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, areas where mangrove forests had been cut down suffered more devastation than areas where healthy mangrove forests remained as a buffer.
Species depend on each other - Ashraf
healthy biodiversity can play a significant role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. To ensure survival, every species provides services for others which they are depending on. For example, animals need plants for food and oxygen indirectly which they need to live. at the same time plants need carbon dioxide which animals breathe out for the process of photosynthesis to happen which then they can release oxygen into the atmosphere. Each species makes up one part of the food chain. so if one extinction happens, it will affect the whole chain causing other animals in shortage of food resulting to death and may extinct.
Food - Nina
Agriculture and biodiversity have often been regarded as separate concerns. Although biodiversity underpins much of modern agriculture, the development of contemporary production systems has resulted in extensive land conversion and concomitant biodiversity loss. In order to feed an ever growing population in Borneo, innovative and acceptable ways of integrating biodiversity conservation and food production need to be identified. Maintaining diversity within agricultural systems is not a novel approach but one practiced by many smallholder farmers globally, in many different ways. The nutritional and livelihood benefits of diverse production systems are one way of achieving food security. Such systems are also more resilient to climate induced events like flood, tsunamis, droughts or other shocks like deforestation, fire, mining. Forests represent an important repository of food and other resources that can play a key role in contributing towards food security, especially if integrated into complex systems that are managed for multiple benefits.
Eco-tourism - Haris
One of the many benefits of having an area with a high biodiversity level involve the social and economic benefits. An area known for having a variety of different plants and animals is predominately seen as one with high levels of beauty and one that is a location to explore for many environmental tourists. This is easily applied to an area such as Borneo. With more than 70% of the country covered by primary rainforests, a place like Brunei can fit in to this perfectly. Nature lovers will definitely be spoiled for choice in Brunei. Untouched rainforests, unspoiled coral reefs, mangrove-covered islands, white sand beaches and accessible nature reserves offer visitors a dazzling array of eco-tourism options - an area such as the Ulu national park in Temburong. The government of Brunei has taken long strides to ensure that this rainforest is protected as much as possible - due to the importance both socially and economically, bringing in tourists ready to be amazed by one of the few countries that leave its primary rainforests untouched the way Brunei has.
Ecosystem - Theo
Biological diversity is important to the way an ecosystem functions. Genetic diversity in an ecosystem will help plants or animals to adapt better to disease of variation to habitat. This is important for tropical rainforests in Borneo as it is a fragile environment. If plants and animals are more adaptable, then rainforests are more likely to recover more quickly if disrupted in any way . Species diversity is also very important in sustaining the equilibrium of an ecosystem. Loss of a key component within the system which is also referred to as 'keystone' species may cause a breakdown as a whole. In the rainforests of Borneo, an example of a keystone species could be the fig tree. Studies have indicated that around 42 percent of known birds and 73 percent of known mammals in Borneo feed on figs. In return, these animals help spread the seeds (along with the genetics) to other parts of the forest.
BIOMIMICRY-NAUFAL 'Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems'. The new age of development has been centered around the need of sustainability. The question for most developers and architects would how can this be achieved? The best example of this being done is withing nature it self. Through eons it has been able to operate in such a way which can put the 'modern society' to shame. If we were to look pass the physical form of nature and understand the basics of its function we will see that their adaptation allows them to work efficiently within its environment. If we could translate this into everyday life we too can benefit from its innovative designs and concept.
Background
Biodiversity provides a valuable service to the people of Borneo and has the potential to be of even greater significance in the future.This page will explore the role that the island's biodiversity has to play in the well being of its people, and also how the benefits of the vast range of species on this island stretches to others across the world.
Examples of Biodiversity in Borneo
List facts/give information source- The island as a whole is conservatively estimated to contain 15,000 plant species, 3,000 species of trees, more than 1,700 species of orchid sand more than 50 carnivorous pitcher plant species. - WWF.
Fedora(Theo)
http://snapshotscience.co.uk/amazing-biodiversity-in-borneo/ (Wajihah)
http://www.mongabay.com/borneo.html - Xing
http://rarespeciesanim.blogspot.com/
(Amal)
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/adventure/blog/borneo-facts/
-Marcus
Borneo is home to the worlds largest flower, the Rafflesia. The flower may be over 100 centimetres (39 in) in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia)
Importance of Biodiversity in Borneo
Paragraphs (point/detail/example)Species becoming extinct. - Rach
Biodiversity on Borneo is very important to maintain as the island is home to more than 1,400 species of animals and at least 15,000 species of plants. However, many of these species have become endangered else where in the world, but remain in Borneo. These animals include the orangutan and pigmy elephant which are only found on Borneo and Sumatra. They are under threat as a result of deforestation due to oil palm plantations. The huge biodiversity of the plants in the rainforest allows for many species of animals to be dependent on them, as well as other animal species (many different trophic levels are able to develop) However the deforestation causes a decrease in the number of plant species, therefore decreasing the number of trophic levels - decreasing biodiversity. This has become increasingly threatening for the orangutan due to their eating habits - most fruit found in the forest,as well as their living and shelter, these have both been destroyed therefore leaving the orangutan without food or shelter, causing them to slowly die out.
Medicinal Purposes - Fedora
Rainforests currently provide sources for a quarter of today's prescription drugs. Rainforests contain 70% of plants which have anti-cancer properties, whereby 25% of the active ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from these plants. Almost 90% of people in developing countries still rely on traditional medicine, based largely on different species of plants and animals, for their primary health care. In Borneo, the indigenous people (Dayak, Penan, Iban, Madurese) rely on 6,500 species for medicinal purposes. The bintangor is a tree found only on swampy ground in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The indigenous people use its bark to help soothe headaches and skin rashes. The bintangor is currently being tested for HIV and AIDS cures. While, the roots of the Tongkat Ali plant are widely used traditionally as an aphrodisiac and to lower high blood pressure. Therefore, biodiversity is important in Borneo in order for these plant species to survive as they are believed to be the key towards unlocking new cures for devastating diseases.
Agriculture - Sam
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. With a larger number of species (greater biodiversity), it leads to a wider variety of crops which are able to be harvested by indigenous tribes around Borneo (Dayak, Iban, Penan and Maduresse). Farmers and crop breeders, for example, need large gene pools from which to produce disease resistant and high-yielding seeds to counter famine and feed the traditional and sustainable way of living in the Borneo rainforest. Especially with the increase in logging taking place in Borneo, there reduction in trophic levels will have a knock on effect, decreasing the number of plant species, ultimately decreasing biodiversity. This may become a growing worry for farmers and crop breeders as the damage to biodiversity may cause harvest to fall annually.
Future Uses- Harun
Borneo is already an important research field for many biologists and scientists. Keeping a high biodiversity on Borneo is of the utmost importance as the research and investigation of the many newly discovered species on Borneo can prove to be the spearhead of future research in medicine, agriculture biotechnology and environmental issues including environmental protection and soft engineering. This point can be made because we can learn many things from the rainforest on Borneo in terms of how each species interact with one another and to what extent is this interaction the cause of such an immense biodiversity on Borneo and how these interactions can cause the creation of resources that a far superior to what we currently use. One example of such would be the buttress roots as we could be able to take from how they support the bigger trees and use that idea for our own architectural needs.
Education- Denny
Borneo is a scientific frontier for environmentalists for a large number of reasons. There are still millions of undiscovered species of both plants and animals, that are still waiting to be found. Every year, hundreds of different species are found in Borneo. In order for us to study the species, Borneo itself must be preserved properly to allow different species to thrive and adapt to the current environment. Therefore, by understanding the many different species of plants and animals on the island, we will be able to learn ways on how they adapt to the environment, and also how we can help to make sure their habitats are not affected for the worse. For example, a lungless frog was found, by accident, in a clear, cold water stream on the island of Borneo. In addition to this, with the help of the many countries that help make up Borneo, such as Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, their governments have decided to protect and conserve 220,000 km sq of rainforest on the island.
Tourism and Recreation- Maria
Biodiversity is increasingly important to the island of Borneo as it plays a crucial role in the areas tourism and recreation industry. The unique habitat and wildlife, which include the endangered orangutan and pygmy elephant, enhance visitor’s aesthetic experience, providing a large range of activities. Tourism is fast emerging as a new engine of growth in Borneo, as there is much to be found on the island that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The conservation of its forests, rivers and environment is vital for further development of this industry, which has the potential to bring in significant direct foreign investment for the creation of hotels, shopping malls, groceries and the many other services required to support this industry. This foreign investment can act as a catalyst for growth in the many other areas that will stem from the influx of tourists. The creation of these industries will in turn provide employment for the local population.Biodiversity offers protection- Rafi
The benefits that we gain from biodiversity go far beyond the mere provision of raw materials. Already, protected areas through the vegetation they contain, store 15% of the world’s terrestrial carbon. They have enormous untapped potential considering that as much as 20% of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and other land use changes. Biodiversity loss has negative effects on our health, material wealth and it largely limits our freedom of choice. Borneo is an excellent example of this as 50% of Borneo is covered in rainforest that not only protect and feeds its native people (such as ibans and dayaks) it protects the residents living on the island it provides the people a balance of living by giving a protected environment.
Carbon Sequestration- Hau Wei
Plant species in the heart of Borneo absorbs carbon dioxide through the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis and then stores it in the form of organic matter in plant and root biomass. As these organic material decays and soil organics form a large carbon pool in peatlands and soil they provide an important carbon sequestration or storage that helps to mitigate climate change. While in soil, these carbon pools increases the nutrient and water retention capacity and also protects groundwater from contamination.
Tourism and the economy - Rocio
One of the reasons why biodiversity is so important, especially for humans is that many recreational areas benefit from a healthy ecosystem, which promotes tourism. This can be applied to Borneo as countries like Brunei are looking into eco-tourism which would require people visiting the rainforest (Temburong) in order to see the different wildlife and plant species. If the biodiversity is lost not only will it be damaging for the environement (less CO2 absorption, more surface run-off) but it will also have a negative effect on tourism and the economy as people will no longer be interested in visiting these areas. Therefore, less tourists, less jobs, lower incomes causing a negative multiplier effect.
Natural Service- FairuzBiodiversity has many functions, including as a provider of natural service. For example, trees and plants can absorb and lock in carbon dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. Other than that, tree roots also functions to hold soils together from erosion. A healthy biodiverse ecosystem demonstrates its ability to recover quickly from natural disasters and also provide a variety of food and medicine for humans. However, nowadays there are many major threats to the biodiversity such as overfishing, invasive species and habitat destruction which affect the existing ecosystem and cause negative multiplier effect to out economy and social well being
Employment and the Economy- ClarissaBiodiversity, specifically forest and marine employment is important as it provides jobs for millions of people globally. From fishermen to woodcutters, without a rich biodiversity, there would be a lack of jobs available, mostly in the primary sectors, this in turn would have an effect on the livelihood of many people. Borneo's diverse forests provide many products, whether pharmaceutical or for cosmetics. Furthermore, significance of Bornean Rainforests for eco and adventure tourism means that locals benefit through the multiplier effect as more jobs are created in the service industry. However, too much tourists could also create issues for biodiversity.
Native People - Nazihah
The native farming population of Borneo is usually referred to collectively as ‘Dayak’ with roughly 7 main groups in total. These native people benefit from high biodiversity as the forest provides them with a source of living; either through the food they eat such as deers and bearded pigs, or through their housing units which consists mostly of longhouses constructed from natural materials found in the forest itself. These indigenous groups of Borneo often rely heavily on the resources in which the forest provides them with, causing access to natural resources to become territorial. For example, in order to fish within a specific stretch of river, communities are required to claim the right for any of their other members. Also, community members often need to seek approval from others before old growth trees within the community limits as some individuals consider old growth forest that surrounds them as their own property. It is evident that the forest is a symbol of heritage for these indigenous tribes thus illustrating the importance of a rich biodiversity as it sustains their culture and way of life.
Feeding the world - Wajihah
Biodiveristy is essential for global food security and nutrtion and as a source of income opportunities for the poor households. Natural predators such as bees and birds help reduce pests that destroy crops. The crops are also pollinated by insects, birds and other animals, this helps to provide genetic diversity to resist diseases and pests.
The poor households do not have to rely on pesticides and expensive fertilisers. Unfortunately, industrial scale agriculture has led to a dramatic reduction in the genetic diversity. Only a handful of species are now used to produce about 90% of all human food. As a result, thousands of non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with the valuable genetic diversity they contained. However, these food industries can learn from the rural communities who have found ways to integrate their food production with ecosystem stewardship. Increased food production and biodiversity conservation can go hand-in-hand.
Climate Stability - Becky
There is evidence to suggest that an undisturbed rainforest is able to maintain the rainfall in an area because the trees effectively recycle it. This is by absorbing the fallen rain through its roots and it evaporating off the leaves after transpiration. This cycle is effective as the continuous recycling of rainfall provides agricultural land further inland with rain. As Borneo has roughly 427,500 square kilometres of rainforest the amount of rainfall recycled is substantial, as it keeps the whole island well hydrated and the forests rich. If the amount level of deforestation increases, especially in the coastal regions, the effects could be disastrous as it would result in an increase of flooding and a decrease in the health of the forests. And as the biodiversity hotspot map suggests the main reason for the high levels of biodiversity in the tropical regions is the climate (temperature and rainfall) in the tropical rainforest.
Cultural Importance - Xing
Many of the plants and animals are often used as symbols for groups of people; for example in the form of flags, songs, legends, paintings, sculptures, stamps. Biodiversity contributes to the culture of a society as it makes it special or unique, it may also be one of the few things that 'tie' together a community. The national animal of Malaysia is the Malayan tiger (also depicted on the coat of arms in Malaysia) and the national flower of Malaysia is the Hibiscus. Also biodiversity is aesthetically beautiful (pleasure to see nature/wildlife), which a society may be proud of. Biodiversity is also associated with many indigenous tribes in Borneo, for example, the Dayak people were animist in belief. Meaning they had a set of beliefs on the existence of non-human 'spiritual beings' (may be in the animals, plants, rocks and other entities of the natural environment).
Psychological well-being- Brian
A recent study has shown that green spaces with a higher level of biodiversity may improve mental health, which may consequently improve mood, relieve stress, increase lifespan and improve cognitive abilities. A research team investigated 34 study sites in Sheffield, UK, surveying bird, butterfly and plant populations and species in order to measure biodiversity and interview visitors, and found that people responded positively to a higher perceived level of biodiversity, reporting a “restorative nature”, which helps visitors bounce back from mental fatigue. They also reported the importance of biodiversity to a space’s identity and the relative importance to the people who have lived in the area for many years.
Flood prevention and reducing erosion - Amal
The movement of water into rivers and other waterways is modulated by forest vegetation. Vegetation increases the ability of soils to retain water, preventing floods and erosion. Since a forest can intercept as much as 50% of the rainfall, it will prevent much soil loss which might otherwise occur from the impact of rain on the land surface. Water passes from rainforests into rivers and streams with much less force, reducing erosion and the threat of floods.
Examples:
Starting in 1994, people in Vietnam began planting mangrove forests in order to protect against storms.
During the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, areas where mangrove forests had been cut down suffered more devastation than areas where healthy mangrove forests remained as a buffer.
Species depend on each other - Ashraf
healthy biodiversity can play a significant role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. To ensure survival, every species provides services for others which they are depending on. For example, animals need plants for food and oxygen indirectly which they need to live. at the same time plants need carbon dioxide which animals breathe out for the process of photosynthesis to happen which then they can release oxygen into the atmosphere. Each species makes up one part of the food chain. so if one extinction happens, it will affect the whole chain causing other animals in shortage of food resulting to death and may extinct.
Food - Nina
Agriculture and biodiversity have often been regarded as separate concerns. Although biodiversity underpins much of modern agriculture, the development of contemporary production systems has resulted in extensive land conversion and concomitant biodiversity loss. In order to feed an ever growing population in Borneo, innovative and acceptable ways of integrating biodiversity conservation and food production need to be identified. Maintaining diversity within agricultural systems is not a novel approach but one practiced by many smallholder farmers globally, in many different ways. The nutritional and livelihood benefits of diverse production systems are one way of achieving food security. Such systems are also more resilient to climate induced events like flood, tsunamis, droughts or other shocks like deforestation, fire, mining. Forests represent an important repository of food and other resources that can play a key role in contributing towards food security, especially if integrated into complex systems that are managed for multiple benefits.
Eco-tourism - Haris
One of the many benefits of having an area with a high biodiversity level involve the social and economic benefits. An area known for having a variety of different plants and animals is predominately seen as one with high levels of beauty and one that is a location to explore for many environmental tourists. This is easily applied to an area such as Borneo. With more than 70% of the country covered by primary rainforests, a place like Brunei can fit in to this perfectly. Nature lovers will definitely be spoiled for choice in Brunei. Untouched rainforests, unspoiled coral reefs, mangrove-covered islands, white sand beaches and accessible nature reserves offer visitors a dazzling array of eco-tourism options - an area such as the Ulu national park in Temburong. The government of Brunei has taken long strides to ensure that this rainforest is protected as much as possible - due to the importance both socially and economically, bringing in tourists ready to be amazed by one of the few countries that leave its primary rainforests untouched the way Brunei has.
Ecosystem - Theo
Biological diversity is important to the way an ecosystem functions. Genetic diversity in an ecosystem will help plants or animals to adapt better to disease of variation to habitat. This is important for tropical rainforests in Borneo as it is a fragile environment. If plants and animals are more adaptable, then rainforests are more likely to recover more quickly if disrupted in any way . Species diversity is also very important in sustaining the equilibrium of an ecosystem. Loss of a key component within the system which is also referred to as 'keystone' species may cause a breakdown as a whole. In the rainforests of Borneo, an example of a keystone species could be the fig tree. Studies have indicated that around 42 percent of known birds and 73 percent of known mammals in Borneo feed on figs. In return, these animals help spread the seeds (along with the genetics) to other parts of the forest.
BIOMIMICRY-NAUFAL
'Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems'. The new age of development has been centered around the need of sustainability. The question for most developers and architects would how can this be achieved? The best example of this being done is withing nature it self. Through eons it has been able to operate in such a way which can put the 'modern society' to shame. If we were to look pass the physical form of nature and understand the basics of its function we will see that their adaptation allows them to work efficiently within its environment. If we could translate this into everyday life we too can benefit from its innovative designs and concept.