Alternative futures for Borneo show the value of integrating economic and conservation targets across borders

Rebecca K. Runting (), Erik Meijaard, Nicola K. Abram, Jessie A. Wells, David L.A. Gaveau, Marc Ancrenaz, Hugh P. Possingham, Serge A. Wich, Fitrian Ardiansyah, Melvin T. Gumal, Laurentius N. Ambu and Kerrie A. Wilson
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Rebecca K. Runting: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Erik Meijaard: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Nicola K. Abram: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Jessie A. Wells: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
David L.A. Gaveau: Center for International Forestry Research
Marc Ancrenaz: Borneo Futures Project, Country Woods 306, Jalan WR Supratman, Pondok Ranji-Rengas
Hugh P. Possingham: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Serge A. Wich: School of Natural Sciences & Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Hatton Garden
Fitrian Ardiansyah: Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University
Melvin T. Gumal: Wildlife Conservation Society, Malaysia Program
Laurentius N. Ambu: Wisma MUIS
Kerrie A. Wilson: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Balancing economic development with international commitments to protect biodiversity is a global challenge. Achieving this balance requires an understanding of the possible consequences of alternative future scenarios for a range of stakeholders. We employ an integrated economic and environmental planning approach to evaluate four alternative futures for the mega-diverse island of Borneo. We show what could be achieved if the three national jurisdictions of Borneo coordinate efforts to achieve their public policy targets and allow a partial reallocation of planned land uses. We reveal the potential for Borneo to simultaneously retain ∼50% of its land as forests, protect adequate habitat for the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and Bornean elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), and achieve an opportunity cost saving of over US$43 billion. Such coordination would depend on enhanced information sharing and reforms to land-use planning, which could be supported by the increasingly international nature of economies and conservation efforts.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7819

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