Establishing a centre for excellence for tropical ecology research in Borneo.
£10,000 will enable us to start building a permanent research centre and community hub in the critically important Rungan landscape.
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Help us create a new field station and research centre, providing a vital base for tropical researchers from across Indonesia and the entire world. The research centre will also serve as a hub for inspiring future conservationists, welcoming school groups, university students, and local community members into the forest to nurture their understanding of Borneo's incredible biodiversity.
Since 1999, the Borneo Nature Foundation has been conducting wildlife surveys to inform long-term conservation action. The Rungan Programme was launched in 2016, which also saw the construction of our temporary Rungan Research Camp. For years, this makeshift camp provided a base for BNF’s field teams, as well as visiting researchers and student groups, both local and international. After three successful research expeditions to the region, and monthly monitoring of biodiversity and primate populations, we are now building a new permanent research centre, equipped to house research teams year-round and serve as a central hub for tropical ecology in the region.
Field stations are essential facilities to promote capacity-building and collaborations between institutions. The proposed research centre will play a vital role in advancing our knowledge of tropical forest ecology and the impacts of human development, becoming a Centre of Excellence for scientists throughout Indonesia and across the entire world. The research centre will also act as a base for inspiring future conservationists, welcoming school groups, university students, and local community members into the forest.Â
Located three hours from Palangka Raya City, the provincial capital of Central Kalimantan and home to several partner institutions, Mungku Baru is a traditional Dayak village situated on the Rungan River. Another hour inland, you will find the gateway to the Mungku Baru Research and Education Forest, which houses our temporary research camp and, soon, the new field station. Our temporary camp is situated along the Sahai River, which often overflows its banks, flooding the camp. Walkways and floorboards quickly decay due to the damp conditions and need replacing frequently. The new, permanent research centre will be built on high stilts clear of the floodwaters, and its design follows traditional Dayak architecture as a symbol of integration with the local culture and values. Sustainability is at the core of this new research centre, which will be built from eco-friendly materials, including certified sustainable timber, and feature a recycled water system and solar panels.Â
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We now ask for your support to begin construction of this much-needed research centre. With £10,000, we will be able to hire local builders to establish the foundations and key infrastructure, kickstarting an exciting new stage in our development.
Borneo Nature Foundation is a non-profit conservation organisation. We work to protect some of the most important areas of tropical rainforest and to safeguard the wildlife, environment and indigenous culture on Borneo.
UK REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER:Â 1194359