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Wilting, A.; Duckworth, J.W.; Belant, J.L.; Duplaix, N.; Breitenmoser-Wrsten, C.
Introduction: distribution of and conservation priorities for Bornean small carnivores and cats
2016  Raffles bulletin of Zoology (33): 1-8

In the current 'sixth mass extinction event in the history of life', biological diversity (biodiversity, i.e., genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity) is decreasing at 100-1000 times the pre-human rates (Chapin et al., 2000; Sachs et al., 2009). Because of the exceptional species richness of tropical rainforests, their destruction causes the highest biodiversity losses (Brooks et al., 2002). The islands of South-east Asia are global biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al., 2000), hosting about 13% of all known mammal species on only about 1% of the world's land area (Meijaard, 2009). The mammals of South-east Asia are of high global conservation priority (Schipper et al., 2008; Sodhi et al., 2010). Within South-east Asia, Borneo has been identified as an evolutionary hotspot hosting the highest levels of mammalian species richness (de Bruyn et al., 2014). But this biodiversity hotspot is under sustained pressure from anthropogenic habitat conversion: between 1973 and 2010 over 30% of Borneo's forests were cleared (Gaveau et al., 2014). Of the remaining forest, a large proportion is earmarked for the conversion to non-forest use (Gaveau et al., 2013). In addition to habitat conversion, there are major pressures from habitat degradation and fragmentation; furthermore, hunting is a serious threat to many mammals on Borneo (e.g., Bennett et al., 1995, 2000; Brodie et al., 2015).

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