Alternative futures for Borneo show the value of integrating economic and conservation targets across borders

Balancing economic development with international commitments to protect biodiversity is a global challenge. Achieving this balance requires an understanding of the possible consequences of alternative future scenarios for a range of stakeholders. We employ an integrated economic and environmental planning approach to evaluate four alternative futures for the mega-diverse island of Borneo. We show what could be achieved if the three national jurisdictions of Borneo coordinate efforts to achieve their public policy targets and allow a partial reallocation of planned land uses. We reveal the potential for Borneo to simultaneously retain ∼50% of its land as forests, protect adequate habitat for the Bornean orangutan ( Pongo pygmaeus ) and Bornean elephant ( Elephas maximus borneensis ), and achieve an opportunity cost saving of over US$43 billion. Such coordination would depend on enhanced information sharing and reforms to land-use planning, which could be supported by the increasingly international nature of economies and conservation efforts. Balancing biological conservation with economic development is a challenge for policymakers. Analysing a range of possible future scenarios, Runting et al , show that coordinated planning would allow the island of Borneo to simultaneously retain forested land, protect species and meet economic goals.