The islands and peninsulas of Southeast Asia are the home of such iconic species as orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinoceros. Of all of Earth’s Three Green Hearts, this one feels closest to Michelle‘s heart, from the time she spent there. The forests of Sundaland may also be the most threatened equatorial rainforests. We honor those organizations working to protect Sundaland.

A map of the world indicating the location of the equatorial rainforests of Sundaland: island and peninsula Southeast Asia.
Strangler fig (Ficus sp.) in jungle with vines Sumatra, Indonesia
An atlas moth - one of the many wonders of Sundaland, and characteristic of the biodiversity of the equatorial rainforests: Earth's Three Green Hearts #E3GH.
An orangutan in Sundaland, one of Earth's Three Green Hearts
Long-tailed macaques and monitor lizards are common in Sundaland.
Flying Foxes, also known as fruit bats, are common in Sundaland.

Except for the picture of the Atlas moth (© Nevit Dilmen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons), all of the images above are by Dr. Michelle Merrill from her 1999-2000 research project on Sumatra. They show Sundaland rainforest scenes of orangutans, a monitor lizard, a long-tailed macaque monkey, and flying foxes (fruit bats), and are CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Breathtaking Beauty, Heartbreaking Deforestation

The rainforests of Sundaland have been disappearing faster in the last two decades than anywhere else on Earth. Forests are mostly being cleared to make way for oil palm plantations and other large agribusiness interests.

Protecting and Restoring Forests of Sundaland

These organizations are working to protect Southeast Asia’s rainforests and the species and people who live there:

Novasutras’ donors on Patreon are now supporting the protection of 12 hectares of Sumatran rainforest every month through The Orangutan Project.

Videos on Conservation Work in Sundaland

Love & Science for Orangutans

A Sumatran orangutan (named Musa) making and using a tool, while another (Ati) looks on. From Michelle’s research in Suaq Balimbing in 1999. The site was illegally logged in 1999-2000.

We need Uplifters and donors to help us edit and post higher-quality video of orangutans in the Sumatran rainforest from Dr. Michelle Merrill‘s 1999-2000 research project. Contact us if you’re interested in helping out in any way.

Learn more about Earth’s Three Green Hearts