Understood in your area as the kapur paya, Dryobalanops rappa is an imposing dipterocarp tree that still exists today however is threatened and discovered in the carbon-rich peatlands of Borneo, consisting of Brunei.

The 2-million-year-old fossil leaves of this types were discovered at Kampong Lugu in Tutong district of Brunei.

“This discovery supplies an unusual window into the ancient history of Asia’s damp tropical forests,” stated Tengxiang Wang, a doctoral trainee at Penn State.

“We now have fossil evidence that this spectacular tree types has actually been a dominant part of Borneo’s forests for countless years, stressing its environmental value and the requirement to safeguard its staying environments.”

“Until now, the fossil record of Asia’s damp tropical forests has actually been remarkably limited compared to the Amazon and Africa,” stated Penn State’s Professor Peter Wilf.

The paleontologists recognized the fossils by examining tiny functions of the maintained leaf cuticles, which exposed a best match with modern-day Dryobalanops rappadown to the last cellular information.

“Our findings highlight that these forests are not simply abundant in biodiversity today however have actually been home to renowned tree types for countless years,” Wang stated.

“Conserving them is not just about safeguarding contemporary types however likewise about protecting a tradition of environmental strength that has actually stood up to countless years.”

“Dipterocarps, the dominant tree household in Asia’s jungles, are vital for carbon storage and biodiversity,” the scientists stated.

“However, they are significantly threatened by logging and environment damage.”

“By exposing the deep historic roots of these trees, this discovery includes an essential brand-new point of view to preservation efforts.”

“The findings include a brand-new measurement to preservation; we are not just safeguarding contemporary types however ancient survivors that have actually been essential parts of their distinct communities for countless years,” Wang stated.

“This historic viewpoint makes both the threatened trees and their environments much more important for preservation.”

“Our research study likewise demonstrates how fossil proof can enhance preservation methods for threatened types and communities based upon their historic significance.”

“Understanding the history of tropical forests is necessary for their preservation, particularly as numerous essential types deal with quick decrease,” Professor Wilf stated.

“Our finding fossils of living, threatened, huge tree types supplies an essential historic structure for saving tropical Asia’s keystone trees, the quickly vanishing dipterocarps.”

The discovery is reported in a paper in the American Journal of Botany

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Teng-Xiang Wang et alFossils of a threatened, endemic, huge dipterocarp types open a historic website into Borneo’s disappearing jungles. American Journal of Botanyreleased online May 8, 2025; doi: 10.1002/ ajb2.70036