Beautiful Borneo

Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, is home to huge numbers of plant and animal species that exist nowhere else. Dense old-growth rainforests, remote mountains, and winding rivers provide habitat for endangered orangutans, gibbons, pangolins, and countless other species. 

Tragically, this natural splendor is quickly disappearing. Forests are being cleared at alarming rates, the trees turned into timber that is shipped all over the world, and the vibrant forests replaced by enormous oil palm fields. The rivers are increasingly choked with pollution and trash. As this destruction spreads, many of the island’s unique species face extinction. This ongoing crisis jeopardizes not only unique ecosystems, but the lives, livelihoods, and culture of Borneo’s indigenous communities.

Local people mobilize for conservation

Seacology’s latest project in Indonesian Borneo supports the people of Tayan Island, which sits in the Kapuas River. In recent years, the river and surrounding forest watershed have been polluted by illegal gold, nickel, and sand mining, and fishers’ use of poisons and electricity. 

Because the government has not effectively enforced environmental laws, dozens of community members stepped up to fight these threats themselves. Using their own boats and handmade signs, they are patrolling the river, organizing island residents to promote conservation, and reporting violations of the laws to authorities. We want to support this effective grassroots effort!

What your support means

Your contribution to our project will help Tayan Island’s people protect this important, fragile ecosystem, and create new economic opportunities. Our project funds:

• Improved food security from sustainably raising fish that are safe to eat, unlike those from the polluted river.
• Native tree planting, which will stabilize the riverbank and produce leaves that can be sold.
• A new patrol post, for better river monitoring. The existing building, where community members gather to coordinate their river protection, is damaged and needs to be rebuilt.

Even a small contribution can make a real difference for the people of Tayan Island and their conservation goals. For example:

• $10 buys a wooden post for the frame of the guard building.
• $35 purchases windows for the guard post.
• $60 plants a native tree.
• $100 buys roofing materials for the guard post.
• $700 fully funds one of the two fish ponds.
• $1,200 fully funds the rebuilding of the guard post.

We hope you’ll consider supporting and sharing this urgent campaign. Together, we can help ensure a brighter future for the people of Tayan Island and support locally led conservation that’s a model for Borneo and beyond.