Greens hail deal to protect Borneo's pristine 'Lost World'
It has been feted as The Lost World, a tropical utopia completely severed from human encroachment that has grown undisturbed for millions of years.
Yet environmentalists have long feared for Malaysia's isolated Maliau Basin, as companies eyed the rich coal deposits and the timber of the rainforests.
Now authorities have taken a big step in securing the remote location's long-term future by nominating the area as a World Heritage Site.
The decision last week was hailed by scientists and conservationists as a victory for the environment and potentially hundreds of undiscovered species. However, some quarters in the timber and mining sectors were less than impressed.
Glen Reynolds, director of the Royal Society's Southeast Asian rainforest programme, said a listing coupled with significant project funding from plantation group Sime Darby would go a long way towards securing the forests' long-term future.
'It's super for the Maliau Basin,' he said. 'It gives an extra layer of protection to what is one of the most important habitats, certainly on the island of Borneo, probably in Southeast Asia.'
