Borneo's Moment Of Truth By Mel White Summary

In the article ‘Borneo’s Moment of Truth’ author Mel White explains the impact of modern society on the island of Borneo. The island of Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is shared by three countries Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. The island was considered one of the most diverse habitats on the planet yet now faces the deforestation and pollution of many of the areas, which sustained that diversity. White looks at the displacement of both native peoples and species by the palm oil, mining, and the coal industries on the island. White also looks at the reform involving conservation that has happened in recent years within the governments of the countries, which share the island. The island of Borneo was once covered in a lush dense rainforest however in a twenty-year span between 1985 and 2005 nearly one third of that rainforest was gone. In recent years the deforestation of the Borneo has gained international attention as we see species such as orangutans, pigmy elephants, and rhinoceros are facing extinction due to the deforestation of the islands. The main cause that White cites for the deforestation of the island is the establishment of palm oil plantations. At the time this article was written the island of Borneo produced 86 percent of the …show more content…
Only two of the three countries, which share the island, are facing deforestation, as the country of Brunei does not require the funds created by the timber business. Of the Malaysian providences located on the island the province of Sabah is a safe haven for the endangered species and is largely protected from deforestation. In contrast the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan is plagued with corrupt local police and politicians, which allow illegal deforestation. However, White explains that the governments of both of these countries have begun to crack down on the illegal logging in all