GC’S DaMaI, Borneo 2024-25 Impact Report
From the air, there’s a clear view of the monocrop palm oil plantations bordering the natural forest habitat of Borneo.
Overview
DaMaI Rainforest is comprised of Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, and Imbak Canyon conservation areas—600,000 hectares of Class I protected forests (No Cut, No Kill), along with 400,000 hectares of Buffer Zone secondary and FSC-certified production forests and palm oil plantations.
Dr. Waidi, who is the Head of Conservation for the entire DaMaI Rainforest Landscape and oversees Research on wildlife, flora, and ecosystems, manages 250 employees across 1 million hectares dedicated to all Protection and Science programs.
“We greatly appreciate Global Conservation’s critical funding and Global Park Defense methodology,” says Dr. Waidi. “Without GC support over the last 5-6 years, we would never have accomplished the level of protection achieved. With great appreciation, we look forward to continuing our collaboration on Park and Wildlife Protection and Species Facing Extinction scientific work.”
Key Initiatives
Global Park Defense equipment, systems, and training are being funded to support dedicated park ranger teams focused on anti-poaching and law enforcement in DaMaI core conservation areas. Key initiatives include:
Implementing ground and aerial surveillance equipment, including cellular trailcams and UAV drones.
Installing command and control systems and joint patrolling with law enforcement agencies.
Detailed mapping of DaMaI forests and ecosystems using sophisticated LiDAR and multi-sensor analysis for carbon offset value.
Planning for tourism and improved park management, including best placement of roads and tourism facilities to reduce impact on wildlife and sensitive forest habitats.
Some impressive achievements over the past five years include:
Expanding Class I Forest “No Cut, No Kill” area by 90,000 hectares
Over 18,000 kilometers patrolled
85 arrests and hundreds of confiscations
SMART Training and Equipment for all DaMaI Teams
Single, Unified Command structure across DaMaI Rainforest
Integration of Park, Forestry, and Police protection teams
Long-range patrolling finding many poaching camps, carcasses, and snares
Two Year Planning meetings in Danum Valley with GC Partners, Yayasan Sabah, and Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) increase protection funding for 2024 for long-range patrolling and two new Ranger Stations in high-threat areas.
New Ranger Stations will enable a new full-time presence in both the Far West of DaMaI outside Imbak Canyon, where there is intense poaching into the park, and on the only main road to Maliau Basin for regular inspections of vehicles to discourage poachers from entering the area.
GC’s newest Partner, Sabah Wildlife, budgeted for 12 dedicated Wildlife Rangers for the DaMaI Rainforest against wildlife poaching.
Global Conservation is also assisting with tourism development planning and introductions to the best resort and hotel developers to increase the economic potential of DaMaI Rainforest for Malaysian and International visitors, and open up new areas of the Rainforest to ecotourism, hiking, birding, and resort and recreational activities outside Core Conservation Areas.
By bringing more high-end adventure and ecotourism to DaMaI, economic opportunities can convert hundreds of poachers and exploitation to conservation.
Another exciting development is seeing a Malaysian foundation co-fund in Park and Wildlife Protection, supporting six full-time Rangers.
Last but not least, In March, 2025, Paul Hilton released an episode of GC’s War On Nature: Saving the Heart of Borneo, which currently has 352,000 views.
Are you a GC supporter or considering investing in the protection of the most precious wild ecosystems on Earth? Donate today to support our vital projects.
