Though it may be isolated from most of the world, Borneo is hardly a small place. Geographically, it's the third largest island in the world and is divided between three countries: Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. Environmentally, it has one of the oldest rain forests in the world and hosts an enormous array of endemic species. And because it was an island apart from the world of much of its history, Borneo is rich with the cultural traditions of its indigenous population and its newer Asian and European populations.

But the Eden-like natural environment and the people who have populated it for generations are at risk of disappearing. A combination of logging, climate change and spreading palm oil plantations has transformed the once-verdant island and taken a steep toll on its wildlife. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the rising demand for palm oil has spurred Malaysia and Indonesia – who each own large portions of Borneo – to raze enough land for production that they now account for more than 90 percent of the world's palm oil production area. In addition to affecting the animals of the island such as orangutans and pangolins, the changing terrain has affected humans as well. Some have even claimed they would give their lives to protect the forest, reported The Guardian.

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Despite the catastrophic destruction of forests, there's reason to be hopeful or the future of Borneo. One luxury eco-resort is hoping to bring tourists' attention the conservation issues on the island by getting them personal encounters with pygmy elephants and orangutans, reported the New Zealand Herald. In other parts of the island, local people have banded together to start community-based ecotourism projects. On treks to Hulu Punjungan, the Krayan Highlands and Hulu Bahau, tourists learn about the traditional way of life of indigenous people and experience the unspoiled beauty of the island.

Travelers and conservationists can also take heart from the Heart of Borneo Initiative, a government-led program that aims to conserve biodiversity in the Utah-sized rainforest in the center of Borneo.

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