Fig Trees of Borneo
The Rainforest's Lifeline

Borneo's lush rainforests, among the oldest on Earth, are teeming with over 150 species of fig trees (Ficus). These amazing trees are keystone species  -  they help hold together the rainforest ecosystem. From the towering Ficus stupenda to the tiny Ficus deltoidea (Mistletoe Fig), each one plays a unique role in sustaining Borneo's biodiversity, cultures, and climate.

Ecological Powerhouses

1. Year-Round Supermarkets: Unlike most fruit trees, figs ripen continuously, providing a critical food source during droughts or seasons when other fruits vanish. This makes them a lifeline for over 1,200 animal species, including:
   - Orangutans and gibbons, which feast on ripe figs.
   - Hornbills and fruit doves, which disperse seeds across vast distances.
   - Bats and fig wasps, which pollinate night-blooming and ground figs.
    
2. Stranglers and Giants:
   - Strangler Figs (Ficus annulata): Begin as epiphytes on host trees, then send down roots to form a lattice that "strangles" the host, creating hollow trunks that shelter bats and insects.
   - Giant Bornean Figs (Ficus altissima): Tower over 40 meters, their massive crowns offering shade and nesting sites for birds.
    
3. The Fig-Wasp Symbiosis: Each fig species relies on a specific tiny wasp (just 1 - 2mm!) for pollination. The wasp lays eggs inside the fig, and in return, pollinates the tree - a partnership refined over 60 million years. Without wasps, there would be no figs; without figs, rainforests would collapse..

Cultural Roots

For Borneo's indigenous communities, fig trees are woven into daily life and traditions:
- Dayak Tribes: Use fibrous bark of Ficus virens to make traditional clothing and ropes. The latex of strangler figs is used as glue for blowpipe repairs.
- Penan Nomads: Conserve fig trees as markers of fertile hunting grounds, knowing they attract wildlife.
- Folklore: Legends tell of figs as bridges between the human and spirit worlds. Some tribes believe ancient figs house protective spirits.

Under Threat

Despite their importance, Borneo's figs face existential risks:
- Deforestation: Over 30% of Borneo's rainforests have been lost since 1970 to logging, palm oil, and mining. Strangler figs are especially vulnerable as their host trees vanish.
- Climate Change: Erratic weather disrupts fig-wasp lifecycles, risking pollination collapse.
- Fragmentation: Isolated fig trees struggle to reproduce, as their wasps cannot travel far.

Hope for the Future

Conservationists and local communities are fighting back:
- Reforestation Projects: Planting fig trees to revive degraded forests (e.g., Sabah's Innoprise-FACE Foundation).
- Protected Areas: Danum Valley (Sabah) and Gunung Mulu (Sarawak) safeguard critical habitats.
- Citizen Science: Apps like iNaturalist let students document fig species and track biodiversity.

 

Why Should We Care?

Fig trees remind us that every species is a thread in the web of life. Protecting them means safeguarding Borneo's wildlife, cultures, and the planet's climate. As the Iban proverb says:

"Aja kita ninggal kayu, aja kayu ninggal kita."
('We do not abandon the forest; the forest does not abandon us.')

 

Identify Fig Trees by Their Characteristics

The rainforests of Borneo are home to an incredible variety of fig trees (Ficus species), each playing a vital role in the ecosystem. These trees are considered keystone species because they provide year-round food for many animals, including birds, bats, monkeys, and insects. Beyond their ecological importance, fig trees in Borneo exhibit diverse characteristics, adapting to different environments and survival strategies.

In this guide, students will explore how to identify fig trees based on their unique characteristics. These variations include:

1. Figs of Root Climber  -  Climbing figs that use tree trunks or surfaces for support.
2. Figs of Short Tree  -  Small, independent trees that thrive in various forest conditions.
3. Figs of Earth Figs  -  Fig species growing close to the ground, often near forest floors.
4. Figs of Shrub  -  Bushy, smaller fig plants found in understory habitats.
5. Figs of Strangler with Many Roots  -  Figs that envelop host trees with an extensive root network.
6. Figs of Strangler with One Trunk  -  Strangler figs that maintain a single strong trunk while growing over other trees.
7. Figs of Tall Tree  -  Large, towering fig trees forming part of the rainforest canopy.
8. Figs of Tree Trunk Fig  -  Fig species that grow directly on tree trunks, relying on their host for support.

Understanding these different types of fig trees allows students to appreciate their ecological significance, adaptations, and conservation importance. Through this study, we gain a deeper insight into how fig trees help sustain Borneo's extraordinary biodiversity