Saving Borneo.The tropical South Asian island of Borneo is an ecological goldmine of exotic species, many of which are found nowhere else. Three years ago, a fox-like mammal many scientists believe to be the first new species of carnivore carnivore (kär`nəvôr'), term commonly applied to any animal whose diet consists wholly or largely of animal matter. In animal systematics it refers to members of the mammalian order Carnivora (see Chordata). discovered in over a century was photographed on the Indonesian part of Borneo, according to Reuters. The third largest island in the world, Borneo is home to more than 2,000 different tree species. But deforestation deforestation Process of clearing forests. Rates of deforestation are particularly high in the tropics, where the poor quality of the soil has led to the practice of routine clear-cutting to make new soil available for agricultural use. , poaching poaching: see cooking. , slash and burn This article is about the agricultural practice of slash and burn. For the military tactic, see scorched earth. Slash and burn refers to the cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields for agriculture or pasture for livestock, or for a farming, and the development of palm oil plantations have taken their toll on this wet, lush jewel of an island. Forests are now being decimated at the rate of about a football field per day. In addition, much of its wildlife is now dangerously close to extinction. Hundreds of orangutans are hunted or captured every year, threatening the survival of this already endangered primate. Poachers also have killed off rhinos to the point where only 13 are estimated to be living on the island. In 2002 the United Nations pledged to slow the loss of species by 2010, but so far little progress has been made, Reuters said. AMERICAN FORESTS is planting trees on Borneo to provide habitat for orangutans and other endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. . See story, page 22. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion