To establish and safeguard large protected areas in order to foster conservation of the tropical rainforests of Borneo and other threatened regions.

To provide efficient management, finance and infrastructure for the strict preservation of such protected areas as reservoirs of biological diversity for ecological, genetic, economic, scientific and educational purposes.

To raise awareness of the planetary importance of rainforest protection and its positive impacts for humanity.

"We ... need to recognise that we must all, in some way, pay for conservation. The conservation of rainforests is too big, and too global an issue to be left to the poorest people in the poorest countries already burdened with the legacy of international debt."

Sara Oldfield - Botanist, Global Programme Director, Fauna and Flora International

As part of its commitment to the principles of sustainable development, the Government has integrated into its Accelerated Development programme for Kalimantan, a plan to set aside an unprecedented 10-20 million hectares of virgin rainforest for strict preservation as a wilderness area. (See Identification of the Project)

The Government's firm global commitment has been further cemented by the decision to entrust the stewardship of this area to an independent, non-profit agency established to promote constructive co-operation between the range of stakeholders; including Government and regional authorities, business and development interests active in neighbouring zones as well as, most crucially, the international scientific and conservation communities. The above mandate has been given to the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation (BTRF), which was specially created for, and is wholly dedicated to, the challenging tasks ahead.