Transforming Borneo: From Land Exploitation to Sustainable Development.

The book "Transforming Borneo: From Land Exploitation to Sustainable Development" by Goh and Potter aims to examine the trends in land and forest resource development in Borneo from 1970 to 2020. The authors argue that there has been a transition towards sustainable development since 2010, driven by factors such as consumer awareness, climate change mitigation, and regional concerns over forest fires. The book proposes strategies for reconciling socio-economic progress with environmental sustainability, including bio-economy and eco-economy approaches. However, the authors do not engage with debates surrounding these strategies, and there is limited discussion of the politics and vested interests involved in land and forest management. The book concludes by advocating for pragmatic advances but raises questions about whether technocratic and market-based solutions are sufficient for true transformation and who sustainable development is ultimately benefiting. [Extracted from the article]