The wind on the slopes of Bukit Tengkorak is no longer cool. A faint\nsmell of smoke now seeps through the leaves, carrying a message of\ndanger that cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n
For almost a week, fire has been a real threat in this area that\nshould be peaceful. Hotspots keep shifting, spreading and leaving\nscorched traces on the ground and trees.<\/p>\n
Bukit Tengkorak, located in Suko Mulyo Village, Sepaku District,\nPenajam Paser Utara, now appears devastated after the fire. This\nconservation area is a vital part of the Bukit Soeharto Grand Forest\nPark, a green lung increasingly squeezed by rapid development.<\/p>\n
It is here that diverse flora and fauna take shelter behind the\ntangled roots of old trees that hold the soil together. Unfortunately,\nthat natural beauty is now covered by a blanket of grey ash.<\/p>\n
Amid the remnants of the fire, officers from the Nusantara Capital\nCity Authority are moving carefully to measure the affected area.<\/p>\n
Although the exact figures have not yet been neatly recorded, the\nscene on the ground already speaks volumes of grief that the forest has\nbeen severely damaged.<\/p>\n
Natural conditions seem to be worsening the situation. The El Nino\nphenomenon has brought a prolonged drought that cracks the soil and\nmakes dry leaves rustle in the wind.<\/p>\n
Bukit Soeharto has not even fully recovered from past wounds. History\nrecords that a massive fire once engulfed this area in 1997, leaving a\ndark mark that took decades to turn green again.<\/p>\n
Now, while recovery is not yet complete, the threat of heat has\nstruck once more. The fragile nature is becoming increasingly\nvulnerable, like thin glass ready to shatter at any moment.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keeping-bukit-soeharto-breathing-1788738665", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }