Building a resilient social-ecological system: A case study in Borneo

世界上的热带森林充满了多样性。世界上一半以上的动植物物种生活在热带森林中，这些生态系统调节着维持生命的过程，包括储存大量的碳。尽管热带森林在全球具有重要意义，但它们已进入严重的衰退状态。婆罗洲拥有地球上生物最丰富的热带森林，但许多地区仍然缺乏描述，包括印度尼西亚婆罗洲东加里曼丹的威海森林。本研究将考察由Wehea Dayak社区实施的保护模式的可持续性。使用鲁棒性、脆弱性和风险等概念来分析这些模型的可持续性的工具正在为生物多样性保护的新方法铺平道路。为了加强该模型各组成部分之间的相互作用，我将使用婆罗洲猫的研究作为参与Wehea Dayak社区的工具。尽管云豹是婆罗洲的顶级捕食者，对生态系统的恢复能力可能至关重要，但关于云豹的信息明显缺乏，而关于其他隐秘的婆罗洲猫科动物的信息就更少了。为了制定科学合理的保护和管理计划，需要关于猫科动物种群状况、分布和生态的准确数据。相机捕捉、无线电遥测和观测数据将被用来更多地了解威海的野猫。还将研究选择文化上适当的旗舰物种以增加Wehea内关键元素之间的相互作用。检查婆罗洲内保护模式的可持续性将提供重要信息，有助于减轻未来对生物多样性的损害和损失。从这项研究中获得的信息应广泛适用于世界其他地区，以实现向建立可持续生物多样性保护模式的新方法的转变。

The tropical forests of the world are teeming with diversity. More than half the world's species of plants and animals are found in tropical forests and life-sustaining processes are regulated by these ecosystems, including storing immense quantities of carbon. Despite their global importance, the tropical forests have entered a critical state of decline. Borneo boasts some of the most biologically rich tropical forests on the planet, yet many areas remain poorly described, including the Wehea Forest in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. This study will examine the sustainability of a model of conservation implemented by the Wehea Dayak community. Tools to analyze the sustainability of such models using notions such as robustness, vulnerability, and risk are paving the way for new approaches to biodiversity conservation. To strengthen the interactions between the various components of this model, I will use a study of Bornean cats as a vehicle for engaging the Wehea Dayak community. Despite being the top predator of Borneo and potentially critical for ecosystem resilience, there is a distinct lack of information on clouded leopards and even less on the other secretive Bornean cats. Accurate data on the status, distribution and ecology of cat populations is needed to develop scientifically sound conservation and management plans. Camera trapping, radio telemetry and observational data will be used to learn more about the wild cats of Wehea. The use of selecting a culturally appropriate flagship species to increase interactions between key elements within Wehea will also be studied. Examining the sustainability of a model of conservation within Borneo, will provide important information that may help mitigate future damage and losses to biodiversity. The information learned from this study should be broadly applicable to other regions of the world in achieving a shift toward new approaches in building sustainable models of biodiversity conservation.