GETTING READY IN TIME

With global climate change creating more extreme weather events, forest fires tragically make headlines all too often. In Kalimantan, the working areas of the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation have not been spared from occasional fire outbreaks, with years impacted by El Niño events being the most disastrous for forests, dangerous for people, and deadly for orangutans.

El Niño refers to the years in a natural cycle, where, in Indonesia, the combination of high air pressure and extreme sea water temperature makes for prolonged hot and dry conditions that drastically increase fire risk. In particular, in 2015 and 2019, forest and peatland fires were severe, with effects felt well beyond the island of Borneo. In 2023, we are at high risk again as we enter another El Niño year, and the threat of forest fires threatens to hurt the environment, human health, the economy, and the global climate.

In 2015, Central Kalimantan experienced forest and peatland fires covering approximately 584,000 hectares. Thick smoke obscured the air, causing respiratory issues and leading to the loss of habitat for various flora and fauna species, including orangutans.

Between November 2015 and February 2017, the BOS Foundation had to translocate nearly 90 wild orangutans due to the devastation caused by the burns. Four years later, in 2019, fires occurred once again. Although the intensity was not as high as in 2015, these fires threatened the environment and human health.

In 2023, forest fires continue to be a relevant issue. Extreme weather patterns, climate change, and unsustainable agricultural practices remain the primary causes of forest fires. These fires result in economic and environmental losses and jeopardize global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The BOS Foundation team has undertaken several preventive efforts to mitigate the impact of forest fires in Kalimantan, such as conducting patrols to monitor the land and boundaries of the working areas to prevent and report illegal activities, such as land clearing, that contribute to fire risk. The team also uses drone technology to monitor and detect ignition sources, enabling effective fire-fighting actions as early as possible.

Additionally, restoring the hydrological function of peatland through rewetting by damming canals and reflooding these carbon-rich forests is another action taken in forest fire prevention. The staff carries out this step in conjunction with raising awareness and providing disaster fire mitigation training to communities around the BOS Foundation’s working area. Currently, BOS has established fire-fighting teams in eight villages, with two to three teams in each village. These teams are responsible for monitoring peatland moisture levels, clearing mitigation paths, inventorying fire-fighting equipment, and constructing wells and “beje” (ponds) that they then use as water sources for extinguishing fires in the case of outbreaks.

Collaboration and commitment from all stakeholders, including the government, communities, the private sector, and international partners, are necessary to reduce and avoid the negative impact of forest fires in Kalimantan.

Please consider donating if you want to help us gear up for the fire season.
No amount is too small.