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Borneo rainforest. (Photo by R. Butler)
Preface: The mission of mongabay.com
Lingering beside a small stream in the Malaysian rainforest
of Sabah, on the island of Borneo, I watch the water move swiftly over worn, round stones. The pace of the flow
quickens as the stream cascades over a short waterfall into a clear pool. Vibrantly colored butterflies in shades of
yellow, orange, and green flirt with columns of light that penetrate the dense canopy. The raucous calls of hornbills
challenge the melodic drone of cicadas. Though the forest is never silent or still, it brings a deep sense of calm.
I sit with my feet in the cool water, picking over my clothes in search of leaf leeches, who seek a feeding opportunity
in every crease of material. As I remove these brightly hued creatures, I am content to watch a lone male orangutan
silently make his way through the branches above the stream. The idyllic setting and the company of my red-bearded
simian companion provide the perfect end to my half-day trek.
Such wildlands provide me with an escape from the daily rigors and chaos of my profession,
and I have come to greatly appreciate places of natural wonder.
- - -
I have long had a fascination with the natural world and its creatures, but the idea for this book arose out of
deep sadness. Eight weeks after leaving the tract of Malaysian rainforest that had filled me with happiness, I
learned the forest was gone, logged for wood chips to supply a paper-pulp plant. This place of wonder and
beauty was lost forever. The orangutan, the hornbills, the butterflies, and even the leeches would now have to
make do in their dramatically changed environment.
Despite my few years in the forest, this was not the first time I had lost such a special place, nor would it be
the last.
These personal losses have long troubled me, but the loss of that small section of forest in Borneo created the
urgency to act upon a thought that had been nagging me. While environmental losses and degradation of the rainforests
have yet to reach the point of collapse, the continuing disappearance of wildlands and the loss of their species are disheartening.
I feel sorrow for those who have not yet had the privilege of experiencing the magnificence of these places, and I try to
picture how—should biodiversity losses continue to mount—I will explain to my grandchildren why these places that I enjoyed in my youth no longer exist.
The lesson of A Place Out of Time is that we may not have to accept this future. A lot can still be done. Using our
intelligence and ingenuity, the human species can preserve biodiversity and unique places for future generations,
without compromising the quality of life for present populations.
- - -
A Place Out of Time is written for those who have an interest in the natural world. It is scripted to appeal to
a broad audience, so that readers from grade-school students to stockbrokers to plumbers can enjoy and learn from it. I have sought to broaden the reach and horizons of this text by incorporating and bringing together
far-flung (and sometimes seemingly unrelated) information from a variety of sources not easily accessible to most
readers. In the process I have tried to simplify the sometimes complex subject matter and to provide some insight
into the current economic, political, and social climate for tropical rainforests.
How falling a gecko lands on its feet
(3/17/2008) According to new research the gecko may have the most dynamic tail in the natural world. Two researchers from UC Berkley have discovered that the gecko uses its tail to keep itself from falling off slippery vertical surfaces and when falling to rapidly right itself. So, like a cat, it always lands on four feet.
Photos: Caterpillar transforms from mimicking bird droppings to a leaf
(2/21/2008) Scientists have discovered the hormone that enables swallowtail caterpillars to morph from mimicking bird droppings to the bright color form that matches the leaves upon which they feed. The research is published in Science.
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
To reproduce, parasite transforms ant into juicy red berry
(1/17/2008) Scientists have discovered a parasite that transforms the appearance of its host, an ant, into that of a juicy red berry that birds are more likely to eat and disperse into new habitats, reports an article published in The American Naturalist. It is the first example of fruit mimicry caused by a parasite, say the researchers who discovered the parasite, a nematode or roundworm found in the canopy of tropical forests ranging from Central America to the lowland Amazon.
