The Ecology of Kalimantan

Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, is a global centre for biodiversity. This work presents a complete summary of scientific knowledge about its riverine, rainforest and coastal ecosystems. It also studies the people and their use of natural resources.

Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, is a global centre for biodiversity. Because of its rich supply of natural resources, Kalimantan has also been a key player in Indonesia''s economic development. As a result of unsustainable logging and industrial development, many of the island''s unique riverine, rainforest, wetland, and coastal habitats are vulnerable and highly endangered. Part of The Ecology of Indonesia series, The Ecology of Kalimantan presents a complete summary of our current scientific knowledge about the ecosystems of Kalimantan. Using numerous maps, colour photographs, and line- drawings, it examines each of the major ecosystems of the island, and the interrelationships between some of their component species. It also focuses on the people of Kalimantan and their use of natural resources, as a major part of these ecosystems. The second part of the book examines the potential of Kalimantan''s different land units for the development of commercial production systems such as plantations and agroforestry. Guidelines on resource conservation, ecologically sustainable management plans, and the ecological consequences of development are integrated into this. Accessible to any reader with an interest in the region, this book will be an invaluable handbook for all individuals involved in conservation, ecology, anthropology, development planning or resource management in Indonesia, and Kalimantan in particular.