The Pre-Human Borneo

Once upon a time...

Before humans overran the earth and obliterated nearly everything they could into profit, the lowland rainforests thrived all over the island of Borneo, a tropical wet climate zone, where average monthly rainfall is more than 200 millimeters all year, and temperature ranges stay within 10°C of each other. One of the oldest rainforests in the world (also one of the most biodiverse places), the Borneo lowland rainforests host 155 endemic species, 380 species of birds, an estimated 15,000 known plant species, a wealth of reptiles and amphibians unparalleled in the Sunda Shelf, and is home to some of the world's most critically endangered species, such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, Bornean orangutan, clouded leopard, sun bear, among countless others.


In its pristine state, the lowland rainforests are a rich and lush reserve full of life and activity. Like all other rainforests, the lowlands contain a multiplicity of plant species that separate into three distinct layers. A variety of tree species make up the middle layer, a 24-36 meters tall canopy, with a few trees emerging from the canopy to reach a high 65 meters to constitute the uppermost layer, the emergent layer. The bottom layer resides in the perpetual shade of canopy, forming the understory where all plant species are adapted to darkness and vie for what little sunshine seeps through. These rainforests are the hub for both plant and animal life, for as many as 240 unique tree species can live on a single hectare. A plethora of plants also leads to an abundance of animal species. Due to the absence of large carnivores, several medium-sized carnivores share the land with countless other smaller animals, many of which are endemic to the island. Several share similarities with species from islands around the region, due to the Pleistocene glacial period, when Java, Sumatra, Borneo, mainland Malaysia, and Indochina were all connected before sea levels rose. The land itself is formed of limestones, volcanic rocks, schist-gneiss complexes, and sedimentary rocks, with 130 million years of biomass decay coupled with waterlogged soil forming peat swamps.

Lowland rainforest in its pristine, virtually unexplored state of the Danum valley on Borneo, Sabah State, Malaysia
Frans Lanting/Corbis. Photograph. "Weird and Wonderful Species Found in the Heart of Borneo." The Guardian. 26 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 April 2010.