The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD Project

(Lambert and Woodcock 1996; BirdLife International2001). Moreover, while the recent high rates ofdeforestation have depleted populations of all lowlandbiota, those Bornean endemics preferring accessible andecologically sensitive level riverine forest are likely to beplaced under even higher pressure. This species isreported to occur in TPNP (BirdLife International 2001).7. Hook-­‐billed Bulbul (Vulnerable). Endemic to Borneo,Sumatra and Bangka Island where it is a specialist residentof low productivity forests such as kerangas andpeatswamp (Sheldon 1987; Dutson et al. 1991; BirdLifeInternational 2001). It is reportedly common in inlandforest areas in TPNP, including swamp forest, kerangasand fire-­‐padang scrub (Nash & Nash 1987).Borneo’s southern coastal forests and wetlands (including ‘Lakeof a Thousand Birds’ in Tanjung Puting National Park and LakeSembuluh on the east side of the Seruyan River) host a variety ofbird species that are entirely or largely restricted to these partsof the island. These include two species of woodpecker (SundaPygmy Woodpecker, Common Flameback), two kingfishers(Ruddy and Collared Kingifshers), at least three species ofwaterbird (Purple Swamphen, Common and Dusky Moorhens),and a suite of resident and migratory passerines (MangroveWhistler, Asian Glossy Starling, Great Tit, Brown and Long-­‐tailedShrikes, Copper-­‐throated Sunbird and Crimson-­‐breasted andScarlet-­‐headed Flowerpeckers).In addition to the large number of IUCN-­‐threatened bird speciesresiding in the area, TPNP also supports breeding colonies ofwetland birds that are known to breed in few or no other placesin Borneo, including a number of Threatened birds. Species inthis category include Storms’ Stork, Lesser Adjutant and a varietyof egrets and herons (bin Jalan and Galdikas 1986).Further research on birds in the estate is highly desirable due to acombination of factors:The distribution and ecology of Bornean birds are still poorlyunderstood. Importantly, there are still gaps in ourknowledge of the bird community structure in TPNP andsurrounding areas. The most extensive list to date wascompiled over a single period between May and Septemberin 1986 (Nash and Nash 1987). While this work provides agood background survey of the local avifauna, it does notconstitute a complete inventory of all bird species present. Inparticular, a number of endemic and conservationallysignificant taxa may remain undetected (e.g. Wallace’s HawkEagle Spizaetus nanus, Bonaparte's Nightjar Caprimulgusconcretus).The high biodiversity values present in Bornean lowlandforests.The high rate of loss of Bornean lowland forests in recentdecades, including the destruction and degradation of habitatwithin protected as well as production landscapes. As aresult, there is an emerging consensus that maintainingIndonesia’s biodiversity will rely on conservation effortswithin production landscapes (e.g. Meijaard et al. 2005).The high number of bird (and other) species of internationaland national conservation significance present within TPNP,situated immediately to the west of the forest managementunit, many of which may also occur in adjacent areas.The loss or degradation of ~40% of forest originally existingwithin TPNP, particularly from illegal logging and forest fires(Environmantal Investigation Agency 1999; Greenpeace47