Borneo

Borneo is the third-largest island in the world, located in Southeast Asia, shared by three countries: Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), and Brunei. Situated near the equator and surrounded by the South China Sea, Java Sea, and Sulu Sea, Borneo is characterized by its tropical climate and vast expanses of rainforest, rivers, and mountainous terrain.

Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with some of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests—over 140 million years old. It hosts thousands of species of plants and animals, many of which are endemic. Iconic wildlife includes the Bornean orangutan, pygmy elephant, proboscis monkey, clouded leopard, and hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The island is also a global hotspot for tree diversity, with some of the highest densities of tree species anywhere on the planet.

Its ecosystems range from lowland rainforests, peat swamps, and mangroves to montane forests and karst caves. Borneo’s marine biodiversity is also rich, especially in coastal areas and coral reefs around Sabah and Kalimantan.

While Borneo's natural richness is globally significant, it is also under severe threat from deforestation, palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and mining. Conservation areas like Kinabalu Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Danum Valley, and Tanjung Puting National Park play key roles in protecting its irreplaceable biodiversity.

Thanks to its equatorial location and ancient ecosystems, Borneo is a cornerstone of global biodiversity and a critical focus for conservation efforts.