Sundaland Rainforest

Sundaland is a biogeographical region in Southeast Asia that includes the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. The tropical rainforests in this area represent a globally significant biodiversity hotspot.

The region supports extraordinarily high levels of endemic species, meaning animals and plants that exist nowhere else on Earth. Iconic endangered species like the Sumatran orangutan, the Javan rhinoceros, and the Bornean clouded leopard rely on these specific forests to survive.

The Wallace Line runs just east of Sundaland, marking a deep biogeographical transition zone first noted by Alfred Russel Wallace. It separates the Asian-influenced flora and fauna of Sundaland from the distinct, more marsupial-based species of the Wallacea region to the east.

The primary threat to these rainforests is the rapid expansion of agriculture, particularly the establishment of massive palm oil plantations. Illegal logging and devastating forest fires have also contributed to massive habitat loss across Sumatra and Borneo.