News from Borneo

The World Wildlife Federation made a remarkable announcement in Geneva today. Scientists discovered no fewer than 52 new species of plants and animals on the island of Borneo since 2005. The new species included:

• two tree frog species, including one with green eyes;
• six species of Siamese fighting fish;
• a catfish with suction cups on its belly to anchor it to rocks;
• the world's second tiniest fish that measures less than a centimetre in length;
• twenty-two other species of fish;
• sixteen new species of ginger;
• three species of trees; and
• one broad leaf plant species.

These discoveries were made in a 15-month period from July 2005 to September 2006. The volume of new species is amazing in itself, but it was only in April of last year that the WWF reported that 361 new species had been discovered in Borneo in the decade between 1994 and 2004. These new species included:

• 260 insect species;
• fifty new plants of various types;
• thirty new freshwater fish species;
• five species of crabs;
• seven frog and one toad species;
• six species of lizards; and
• one species of snake.

This cornucopia of biodiversity is not surprising, considering the fact that the island of Borneo is home to one of the largest remaining rainforests in the world. Of course, the downside is that the rainforests of Borneo, like rainforests everywhere else on earth, are under pressure from humanity.

Maintaining this incredible diversity -- including those species that have not yet been identified -- may come down to people deciding that a one centimetre long fish is more important than cheap rubber or palm oil. The trouble is, we humans don't have a great track record of doing what is right for our fellow species on the planet.