Borneo, Malaysia is a biodiversity hotspot, treasured by people all around the world for its abundance of wildlife, including orangutans. For four years, the Smithsonian Institution, UW-Madison ecologist Olivia Cosby, and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation conducted wildlife surveys in Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. Locals from the longhouse communities were hired to act as research assistants, doing much of the camera trapping.
Community Conservation is now partnering with Olivia, the Smithsonian, and the Sarawak Forest Corporation with the hopes of supporting a community-led initiative that will benefit both people and wildlife living in the forests bordering Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS).
The Borneo project exemplifies the potential of community-led conservation. By working together, we can create initiatives that benefit both people and wildlife, ensuring a sustainable future for biodiversity hotspots like Borneo. We look forward to seeing the continued success of this project and the positive impact it will have on the local communities and their natural environment.
Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Olivia to discuss her experiences, the project’s progress, and the exciting future of community-led conservation in Borneo.
Please watch Olivia’s interview and tell us what you think in the comments! You can also read previous project updates on the Borneo project here.