My return to Borneo after ten years shed light on the island’s new normal: dominance of agriculture and development over wilderness, nature, and protected areas. In reality though, this was nothing new- only my understanding of how human expansion impacted areas I visited. 

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Giacomo Abrusci

Bornean forests have been disappearing for a long time

Borneo is changed. A hundred years ago it was all rainforest. In the 1960s the island began to experience industrial scale deforestation with a peak in the 1980s. Today one half of the rainforest is gone and continues to vanish at 1.3 million hectares per year. It is expected that only swampy peat and mountain forests unsuitable for farming will survive through the future.

Ten years ago when I saw there was so little Bornean forest left, I imagined advocates and government officials were grabbing hold of the situation. I hoped there was enough international attention on lessons learned that humanity could value national parks as much as oil palm plantations. To protect biodiversity not only for its monetary but intrinsic value.

Idealism in my twenties encouraged hope but I could have predicted we would not stop loosing this 130 million year old forest, which has stood more than twice as long the Amazon. Now, a decade after my first trip to Borneo, many patches of remaining forest I saw have turned to oil palm. It was a short tour, but the forests I visited a few weeks ago were only within the boundaries of national parks, almost completely surrounded by a monoculture oil palm where little biodiversity can survive. This was the new normal it took me so long to realize. Parks and reserves are inevitably the last holdouts our wilderness, and we need to work hard to make them as large and secure as possible.

The perception of oil palm has flipped

One of my best friends is studying solastalgia, which describes a form of psychic or existential distress caused by environmental change. Human adaptability, or short term memory perhaps, has proven more resilient when it came to Bornean industrial plantations replacing tropical forest.

What surprised me was not so much the encroaching plantations, but people’s perception. A decade ago I asked locals of their opinions and I got an overall negative response: Work wasn’t going to Malaysians. Profits were leaving the country. Forests were being clear-cut. Smoke from fires was a health hazard and nuisance. Now in 2018, in some of those same areas, residents have watched a new green jungle grow, and in many cases for most of their adult life.

These areas of Borneo look like a forest, only this new jungle is void of the biodiversity the land once held. Locals say the plantations generate money for state government (editors note: an unconfirmed and unchecked statement). They also view it as a green economy for a sustainable future. To make matters worse, I heard this and much more in a detailed story from a forest ranger while on tour through Sabah.

Long-tailed macaque on the Kinabatangan River. Giacomo Abrusci

Returning conservationists rarely have happy tales

My father, a former contadino or subsistence farmer, emigrated to the United States and raised my sister and I very much as naturalists, loving nature and respecting the balance of ecosystems. As news stories played across my adolescence, a common theme repeated of scientists returning to a patch of earth or sea years later to see it logged, polluted, or dead. Rarely was there a broadcast of rebounding wildlife- and if it did come up it was surrounding an urban area that set aggressive regulations to curb emissions. Growing up in New Jersey I always looked forward to success stories like the rebound of the Hudson River.

Conservationists generally have much more tragic stories as they mature through their careers. Whether on land or diving in the ocean, most places I traveled to demonstrated a significant impact from humans over time.  The same fate happened to this stretch of forest in Sabah, Borneo, when I returned to ten years later.

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Giacomo Abrusci

Visiting Borneo will support our allies on the ground

There are dozens of parks, reserves, conservation centers, and places where tourism dollars directly support the conservation of countless species. Rehabilitation centers which take in injured or orphaned animals often run on slim margins, but your visit can provide funds to keep them running. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre are two famous and easily accessible destinations that have been doing amazing work for decades. I visited both a few weeks ago and both deserve our support. 

There are also scores of eco tours and resorts which run on the basic principle of keeping forests and the animals within them safe. You can take non-intrusive river tours, jungle treks, and dive at resorts that invest their proceeds directly into the environment. As always, research through TripAdvisor or other reviewing mechanisms is necessary to learn who keeps sustainable practices. Following rankings and recommendations of organizations like Green Fins is even better as their sole purpose is to promote and safeguard best practices in the industry.

It is with great effort conservationists and international groups are moving to declare zones of high biodiversity and high threat as protected areas to minimize human-wildlife conflict. Supporting these reserves, along with rehabilitation centers, are some of the best chances we have at protecting what is left.

Since you started reading this article an area over the size of five football fields has vanished from Bornean rainforest. 

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Giacomo Abrusci

If you would like to make a lasting impact on environmental storytelling, communications, and building a network of conservationists across the globe, you can make a tax deductible one-time donation here or become a Patreon with a small monthly gift.

SEVENSEAS Media works hard to build an international network of conservationists and to provide a spotlight for the good work of all our partners.

Giacomo Abrusci
Executive Director, SEVENSEAS Media

Help us break-even with our minimal operating costs to make sure this resource does not go away. Join fellow readers in supporting our work through 2018.

or support us on patreon.com

• Running community building projects in 174 countries
• Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
• Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
• Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
• Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
• Providing free scientific resources for educators
• Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
• Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
• We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

By Scuba Junkie Conservation Manager, Cat McCann

Sabah Wildlife Department and Honorary Wildlife Wardens

The state of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo – known as ‘the land below the wind’ – is famed the world over for its spectacular wildlife, rare species and incredible biodiversity – both on land and in the water.

People flock to Sabah in the hope of seeing rare animals – including many species that are sadly on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Visitors to the rainforests may be lucky enough to see species of orang-utans (critically endangered), pygmy elephants (endangered), pangolins (critically endangered) and proboscis monkeys (endangered). In the seas surrounding Sabah, divers and snorkellers alike are lucky to see species of turtles such as green turtles (endangered) and hawksbill turtles (critically endangered), as well as endangered species of sharks such as scalloped hammerheads (endangered), as well as whale sharks (endangered).

Such incredibly rare wildlife deserves incredible care – and many of the above species fall under the remit of the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), who work tirelessly for the protection of Sabah’s iconic species.

Sabah Wildlife Department is a local wildlife authority under Sabah’s state Ministry for Tourism, Environment, Science and Technology – and enforces the “Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997” for the proper regulation, use, protection, conservation and management of wildlife, caves and wildlife areas in Sabah.

The SWD works in many different ways to protect the wildlife – including through their dedicated veterinary group, the Wildlife Rescue Unit.  However, recognizing that threats to wildlife and protected areas are constant, the Sabah State Government included the provision of appointing Honorary Wildlife Wardens under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997 – which allows the SWD to train and appoint Honorary Wildlife Wardens (HWWs).

Honorary Wildlife Wardens are members of the local community who have an interest in conservation and are gazetted by the SWD to help enforce protection of protected species in Sabah. In the fight against wildlife crime, HWWs work closely with the SWD by alerting the authorities of any suspicious activities and actions that may threaten the survival of Sabah’s protected wildlife, as well as voluntarily assisting projects that promote the conservation of these species.

HWW act as Wildlife Department’s ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground – helping to strengthen enforcement and prevent acts that would be detrimental to protected species. These posts are voluntary, and HWWs do what they do for their love of wildlife in Sabah.

Scuba Junkie and Honorary Wildlife Wardens

Scuba Junkie is an award-winning dive operator with bases in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and in Komodo, Nusa Penida and Derawan in Indonesia. Scuba Junkie SEAS is the dedicated conservation arm of Scuba Junkie, with six main conservation programmes – turtle conservation; coral conservation; shark conservation; tackling marine debris; supporter engagement and eco-friendly resort.

There are four HWWs at Scuba Junkie SEAS’ base on Pulau Mabul, in the Semporna region – Dionne, Kai, Azlan and David. Turtles are protected by law in Sabah – no one is allowed to touch, interfere or harass turtles, or interrupt their nesting process under penalty of a fine and imprisonment.

As the Semporna area is a hotspot for turtles and the islands in the area known for nesting turtles, the HWWs main roles fall to not only enforcing the law and acting as SWD’s ‘eyes and ears’, but also assisting turtle conservation efforts through practical means such as helping to run the Mabul Turtle Hatchery and the Mabul Rehabilitation Unit.

Although the HWWs work full time for the dive operator Scuba Junkie, they give up their free time and nights to be on call for nesting turtles and turtle hatchlings, as well as helping to care for sick turtles. Scuba Junkie’s HWWs also assist the Conservation Managers in running programmes during the day – for example, schools outreach programmes – when their diving schedule allows.

Each of the HWWs loves their role, although they admit it is not an easy task. During turtle nesting season, an HWW can get a call to a nesting at any time – usually just after midnight, and not finishing for up to four hours afterwards.  

When a nesting turtle is discovered, the community contacts the on duty HWW, who ensures the nesting process is well managed so as not to disturb or stress the female. Once the nesting process is finished and the female has returned to the ocean, the HWWs carefully excavate the nest and relocate them to the Mabul Turtle Hatchery. At the hatchery, they recreate as natural a nest as possible — at the same depth beneath the surface and sheltered from or exposed to direct sunlight. The whole process can often last over four hours…not an easy task.

The HWWs help to protect the nest while it incubates, and release the hatchlings when the nest hatches roughly two months later. As of mid-2018, more than 9,500 baby sea turtles (both green and hawksbill) have been successfully released on the beach in front of Scuba Junkie’s Mabul Beach Resort. It can be very busy during turtle nesting season, often with turtle nestings and hatchlings release on the same night.

Despite the challenges, all of the HWWs relish their role and the opportunities it affords them.

“It is probably the most difficult part for me – to be wakened up in the middle of the night to relocate turtle nest. But  I know that it’s worth it in the end, and it is important for the numbers of turtles in this area” said Mohd Khairuddin Bin Riman (Kai), “I love releasing the newly hatched turtles. I can feel their movement when they are struggling to get out, to move out into the water. Seeing them work hard to get there, seeing them get into the water against all odds, makes me realize nothing is impossible. I know the hatchlings start a completely new journey when out in the water- but at least I have helped as many as possible get there.”

Kai continued “The role of  HWW is very important for me, because I am able to protect the wildlife and environment – it is important to keep the ecological balance on this Earth, we are all part of the great circle of life. It is also important show and educate other people about the dependency of everybody and everything to each other.”

“I didn’t actually have the intention of becoming a HWW in the first place.  I was just presented with this incredible opportunity by Scuba Junkie and the Sabah Wildlife Department to make things better for others and for the environment – and for personal growth – changing how I could make myself as a good person as possible for others.”

“I have so many good memories of my work as HWW – releasing hatchlings, releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the wild – but my one stand out memory is the day Scuba Junkie SEAS signed our MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Sabah Wildlife Department for the Mabul Turtle Hatchery. David McCann (the Conservation Manager for Scuba Junkie SEAS) and myself were so happy that day.”

The rehabilitation centre is also a keen focal point for the HWWs – caring for sick and injured turtles under the guidance of the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit.

Dionne Sherry Guerzo agreed: “It was great to get official recognition for the Hatchery, but my happiest moment was when we released Donatello, one of the rehabilitated turtles. This was the first sick turtle I was involved with, and to see him grow in strength every day made me realize how important every individual is. The vets of the WRU work so hard to save every individual – it’s an emotional rollercoaster, willing the turtle to get better. Yet they do it every day for every animal in their care.”

“I was very grateful to be able to contribute and give back to those who brings me joy – I see healthy turtles underwater every day. People come from all over the world to see the turtles here. And I’m fortunate enough to be tasked with protecting them. I see it as my duty to protect those that I love or care for – and being an HWW is a perfect way for me to be able to give back to the environment.”

Dionne continued: “My worst memory is seeing some turtles that had been poached a few years ago – I felt so helpless, I was devastated. But my role is to help the SWD stop things like this happening  – to protect the voiceless. It gives me a purpose and a focus.  If we don’t protect our wildlife, who will  – what will the future be like?”

Azlan Bin Mohd Yusof has a very definitive vision for the role – and what it means for not only him but for others who want to get involved in conservation. He explains, “Being an HWW lets us protect the wildlife, it gives us knowledge and power to effect change in our home areas. I wanted to become a HWW as I had a passion for conservation and I wanted to be a role model in my community, to show that it is possible to get involved in conservation if the passion and will is there.  I wanted to raise awareness and make a difference – and the role of HWW lets me do all this and more.”

 “I have learnt so much about so many other species of animal, and how important they to our ecosystem. I also learnt a lot about how populations of endangered species are declining.  We need to do more to protect them – as we rely on these ecosystems too.”

“I remember the first time I saw a dead turtle – it had eaten plastic. I was heartbroken – to think that something so simply fixed had caused an animal’s death. When I see plastic on beaches and underwater and I know this could happen again – this drives me to help out and do beach and reef cleans as often as possible. The less plastic in the ocean, the better – and people come and help when they see the effort others are making to keep our oceans cleaner.”

Azlan continued: “There are tough moments – but equally there are some pretty fantastic moments. I remember my first nest relocation – the first time I held a turtle egg in my hand. So precious! And then – two months later, I was holding a hatchling from that same nest in my hand…I cannot describe the feeling, being part of something like this. I have been given a unique opportunity, by the Sabah Wildlife Department and I am honoured to be doing what I do.”

The fourth HWW, David McCann, is the Conservation Manager for Scuba Junkie SEAS. “The amazing thing about being an HWW is that it enables people from all walks of life in Sabah to become active in conservation efforts.  You protect what you love. Which is why a huge part of SJ SEAS work is outreach programmes with our HWWs. We want to engage and tell people about the incredible biodiversity around them, to show them how amazing their local environment is. And hopefully through this, encourage more people to become more active in conservation – maybe following the lead of our HWWs.”

“Our HWWs are amazing role models, they work incredibly hard – with fantastic results.  To think that they are only a small part of the HWW programme – with more HWWs in the forest, in the mountain areas, protecting animals all over Sabah. And then the HWW programme is only one part of the work that the Sabah Wildlife Department do. It shows how seriously and thoroughly they take their responsiblity in protecting the wildlife of Sabah.  It’s a unique and fitting way of protecting the unique wildlife found in Sabah. We would like to thank the Sabah Wildlife Department for being able to be a small part of this.”

Scuba Junkie Conservation Manager, Cat McCann.

Scuba Junkie was set up by divers who had and still have, a love and dedication to the marine and terrestrial environment and through the years have tried to set up and run many projects and build an Eco-friendly resort containing green waste systems, solar energy, the use of only biodegradable cleaning products and plastics and sticking to proper and responsible dive practices etc, so that this beautiful area can be preserved for future generations and that the people of Sabah can thrive from the increased economy brought about by sensible, sustainable Eco-tourism.

Help us break-even with our minimal operating costs to make sure this resource does not go away. Join fellow readers in supporting our work through 2018.

or support us on patreon.com

• Running community building projects in 174 countries
• Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
• Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
• Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
• Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
• Providing free scientific resources for educators
• Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
• Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
• We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by Giacomo Abrusci

 

See more of Jack’s underwater photography on Instagram.

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Help us break-even with our minimal operating costs to make sure this resource does not go away. Join fellow readers in supporting our work through 2018.

or support us on patreon.com

• Running community building projects in 174 countries
• Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
• Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
• Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
• Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
• Providing free scientific resources for educators
• Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
• Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
• We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by Giacomo Abrusci