Changes

The Northeast Bornean Orangutan benefits from full protection in Malaysia and Indonesia, listed on Appendix I of CITES. However, its forest habitat lacks comprehensive protection, with approximately 20% of the current orangutan range in Sabah and 80% in Kalimantan remaining unprotected (Wich et al. 2012). Urgent innovative strategies are required to ensure the long-term survival of Bornean orangutans outside protected forests.

The Northeast Bornean Orangutan benefits from full protection in Malaysia and Indonesia, listed on Appendix I of CITES. However, its forest habitat lacks comprehensive protection, with approximately 20% of the current orangutan range in Sabah and 80% in Kalimantan remaining unprotected (Wich et al. 2012). Urgent innovative strategies are required to ensure the long-term survival of Bornean orangutans outside protected forests.

The fate of Bornean orangutans heavily relies on the enduring security of extensive, strictly protected forests where illegal logging and hunting can be effectively managed, and orangutan populations can withstand catastrophic events like fires and disease outbreaks (Meijaard et al. 2011). These forests should encompass ecological gradients that provide essential resources to sustain orangutans amidst climate and other gradual environmental changes (Gregory et al. 2012). At a broader landscape scale, scientifically informed regional land-use planning is imperative to delineate interaction zones around protected forests and their environs, considering hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic dynamics. Ideally, core protected areas should remain connected to other forested regions suitable for sustainable (commercial) timber extraction. The formulation of such integrated landscapes demands a comprehensive approach spanning the entire landscape, rather than focusing solely on individual sites.

The fate of Bornean orangutans heavily relies on the enduring security of extensive, strictly protected forests where illegal logging and hunting can be effectively managed, and orangutan populations can withstand catastrophic events like fires and disease outbreaks (Meijaard et al. 2011). These forests should encompass ecological gradients that provide essential resources to sustain orangutans amidst climate and other gradual environmental changes (Gregory et al. 2012). At a broader landscape scale, scientifically informed regional land-use planning is imperative to delineate interaction zones around protected forests and their environs, considering hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic dynamics. Ideally, core protected areas should remain connected to other forested regions suitable for sustainable (commercial) timber extraction. The formulation of such integrated landscapes demands a comprehensive approach spanning the entire landscape, rather than focusing solely on individual sites; this is a focal point of the Orangutan Action Plan for Sabah, which covers a ten year period, from 2020-2029 (SWD 2020).

Meijaard, E., Buchori, D., Hadiprakarsa, Y., Ancrenaz, M., et al. (2011). Quantifying killing of orangutans and human-orangutan conflict in Kalimantan, Indonesia. PLoS One, 6(11), e27491.<br>

Meijaard, E., Buchori, D., Hadiprakarsa, Y., Ancrenaz, M., et al. (2011). Quantifying killing of orangutans and human-orangutan conflict in Kalimantan, Indonesia. PLoS One, 6(11), e27491.<br>

Rijksen, H.D. and Meijaard, E. (1999). Our Vanishing Relative: The Status of Wild Orangutans at the Close of the Twentieth Century. Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.<br>

Rijksen, H.D. and Meijaard, E. (1999). Our Vanishing Relative: The Status of Wild Orangutans at the Close of the Twentieth Century. Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.<br>

Santika, T., Ancrenaz, M., Wilson, K. A., Spehar, S., Abram, N., Banes, G. L., ... & Meijaard, E. (2017). First integrative trend analysis for a great ape species in Borneo. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 4839.<br>

Santika, T., Ancrenaz, M., Wilson, K. A., Spehar, S., Abram, N., Banes, G. L., ... & Meijaard, E. (2017). First integrative trend analysis for a great ape species in Borneo. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 4839.<br>

Struebig, M.J., Fischer, M., Gaveau, D.L.A., Meijaard, E., Wich, S.A., Gonner, C., Sykes, R., Wilting, A., & Kramer-Schadt, S. (2015). Anticipated climate and land-cover changes reveal refuge areas for Borneo's orang‐utans. Global Change Biology, 21, 2891–2904.<br>

Struebig, M.J., Fischer, M., Gaveau, D.L.A., Meijaard, E., Wich, S.A., Gonner, C., Sykes, R., Wilting, A., & Kramer-Schadt, S. (2015). Anticipated climate and land-cover changes reveal refuge areas for Borneo's orang‐utans. Global Change Biology, 21, 2891–2904.<br>