The Mawas-Region is BOS's largest project in Borneo. It includes a 377 000 hectare area of lowland rainforest in Central Kalimantan. "Mawas" is the name the native inhabitants name for the Dayak orangutan.
The region is the home to one of the last great orangutan populations of 3,000 animals and many other endangered animal and plant species.
Lowland rainforests are of utmost importance for the world's climate. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide are stored in the up to 20 metres thick peat soils, which are then released during deforestation and drainage. There are 1.2 gigatons of CO2 in the Mawas area alone in comparison with 900 million tons of CO2 emitted each year in Germany which is already contributing to global warming.
Through the sustainable management of the forest the function of the peat layers to store carbon dioxide is not only maintained but increases by two millimetres a year.
From the climate change perspective the loss of the Mawas area through burning or illegal deforestation would be an estimated 2.8 billion Euros, making it worth keeping for a comparatively small amount of money.
BOS supports the rural population in its creation of alternative sources of income such as the cultivation of rattan, fish farming and the production of gum. With ecological and fair trade products and prices a contribution can also be made towards the sustainable management of the rainforest.
There are currently 58 villages with more than 29 000 households under BOS management in the Mawas region.
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Ratan Production |
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Rattan Production
The biggest threats to the rainforest Mawas are the illegal and legal clearing of primary forest together with the increase of forest fires caused by slash and burn.
On top of this there is road construction, drainage of wetlands through the construction of canals and the illegal pet trade.
Another threat is the granting of concessions by the Central Kalimantan Province to mining communities and oil palm companies. Land conflicts with the local communities are on the agenda. In addition to this legal assignment of licenses the oil palm companies and timber companies are known for their illegal activities.
The analysis of current satellite maps has made it possible to obtain details of clearing activities and the breaking out of fires. BOS uses the satellite-guided monitoring system SarVision for the management and protection of the Mawas area.
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