Transforming Palm Oil Plantations into Rainforests
The 50 most majestic tropical trees in the world can be found in Sabah, the Malaysian part of Borneo. The tallest of them stands at 100.8 meters – that’s as high as two Olympic-sized swimming pools stacked on top of each other. This primary forest is one of the largest carbon dioxide (CO2) stores in the tropics and is therefore indispensable for our climate. However, in recent years, the rainforests of Sabah have been extensively deforested to make way for oil palm plantations.
Palm oil ends up in our biodiesel, chocolate bars, and frozen pizzas. These plantations are destroying the habitat of animals by fragmenting protected areas and restricting the movement of wild animals such as Bornean elephants, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys. Consequently, these plantations pose a threat to the biodiversity of one of the most critical biodiversity hotspots on Earth.
Your Donation Helps Restore and Protect the Rainforest from Further Destruction!
Your donation enables the reforestation of a wildlife corridor between the conservation areas of Tabin (123,000 hectares) and Lower Kinabatangan (80,000 hectares). Linking these two forested islands through an 800-meter-wide corridor transforms former oil palm plantations into a diverse wildlife sanctuary. This initiative mitigates the habitat fragmentation caused by deforestation and monocultures.
The wildlife corridor significantly enhances the survival prospects of endangered species such as Bornean elephants, orangutans, and banteng cattle. It serves as a model project for the successful transformation of plantations into rainforests.
With your support, we will transform palm oil plantations into flourishing rainforests!
Frequently asked questions
Can one transform a palm oil plantation into a rainforest?
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Yes. Our on-site partner, the ‘Rhino Forest Fund e.V.’ (RFF), has been accumulating expertise in Sabah for years and has been highly successful in transforming former palm oil plantations into rainforests. You can learn more about our current project here.
How long does it take to convert a palm oil plantation into a rainforest?
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On average, it takes five to eight years. Initially, seedlings are planted. The old oil palm trees are left in place temporarily, as they provide natural protection for the young seedlings. Only after three to five years are the oil palm trees removed. At this point, the new trees are strong enough to withstand wind and weather independently.
What is the impact of my donation?
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Your donation for this project enables the purchase and renaturation of former palm oil plantations. Subsequently, applications are submitted to the local authorities to change the status of these areas into conservation reserves. Ultimately, the process culminates in reforestation, converting these areas into primary forests. In short, the creation of a wildlife corridor.
What is a wildlife corridor?
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A wildlife corridor connects two conservation areas, enabling wild animals to move freely between them. The planned corridor will create approximately 200,000 hectares of contiguous and protected rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia.
What are the disadvantages of establishing palm oil plantations in tropical rainforests?
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In Southeast Asia, deforestation primarily impacts ecologically valuable lowland rainforests, which are often replaced by oil palm plantations and other monocultures. This intensive agricultural use not only destroys the habitats of numerous animal and plant species but also results in long-term damage to the soil and the climate.
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Donations are a matter of trust
Transparent use of funds is a matter of course for us. In September 2013, we joined the a non profit initiative of Transparency International Germany and signed its declaration of commitment.