The solution is in Borneo

Late last month, my MBA program hosted Amory Lovins, who is the founder and head of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a very progressive think tank in Aspen. Amory is also currently serving as a senior advisor to Ford (Motor Company), which he was quite proud to differentiate as the only one of the Big 3 not to receive bailout money. During his visit, he made a presentation about some of his innovative work in energy efficiency (go to www.oilendgame.com/index.html). However, it was his second presentation, for which he comically asked permission to give, that was the pinnacle of the evening.

This second presentation was not really about Amory at all. Rather, it was a narrative about his introduction to the prodigious work of Willie Smits, whom Amory met during his recent travels to Borneo. Willie is a Dutchman who has successfully created and implemented a blueprint for sustainable development on an island that is host to three countries! While his primary mission is quite unique in that he seeks to save the endangered orangutan through reforestation, Willie's operative model for achieving this is one from which we can all learn a great deal.

There are many aspects of Willie's model that are ripe for emulating. However, arguably the most valuable is its ability to restore biodiversity through careful reforestation. It goes without saying that the world's forests are home to many different plant and animal species. Yet, this biome continues to be destroyed at an alarming rate (approximately 13 million hectares annually). In response to this trend (and as a result of carbon neutrality initiatives and Kyoto's Clean Development Mechanism), there has been an increased global effort in afforestation and reforestation. However, much of this effort has resulted in "tree plantations" that are mere monoculture replacements of areas previously rich in biodiversity. Ultimately, this allows for less than a fraction of the species that previously inhabited the forested area to return.

In stark contrast, Willie's model relies on more than 1000 species of trees and other plants to reforest areas in Borneo that were originally tropical rainforest. This has allowed for the return of what is by his count 137 birds species and 30 reptile species. Be sure to watch Willie's TED talk...he has quite a story to share.