The Borneo forests are the most ancient rainforests on the planet, home to the richest biodiversity and some of the most unique species on Earth, however Indonesia and Malaysia produce over 85% of the world's palm oil. Without giving you too many stats and figures, the simple fact is that deforestation in Borneo has happened on an industrial scale since the 1960’s, accelerating dramatically in the last decade. Only half of Borneo’s rainforest remains today and with a deforestation rate of 1.3million hectares per annum, only peat and montane forests are expected to survive in the coming years unless we do something to change the current trajectory. 

Populations of Sumatran Rhinos, Sumatran Tigers, Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants and many more rare and unique species have been devastated and remain critically endangered if not 'functionally' extinct (ie: not enough of the species left in the wild to function as a healthy population without the help of zoos and support from conservation experts). 

The McKay family love the natural world. In March 2021, the four of us will be racing in the Borneo Ultra Trails Marathon along with a group of business leaders and their families to raise funds for Chester Zoo's reforestation and conservation work in Borneo and to raise awareness of the need to migrate supply chains to sustainably-sourced palm oil and prevent further devastation of the natural habitat.