Rainfall brings respite for fires in E. Kalimantan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Intermittent rainfall in many areas of East
\nKalimantan recently has brought relief to the fire-ravaged
\nprovince, where almost 500,000 hectares of forests have been
\nrazed this year, resulting in an estimated loss of Rp 9.2
\ntrillion (US$1.15 billion) in timber revenues.<\/p>\n
Head of the provincial Environmental Impact Management Agency,
\nAwang Farouk Ishak, said that despite the rain, the problem was
\nstill \"worrisome\" because underground fires, kept alive by coal
\nseams, continue to ignite in many areas of the province.<\/p>\n
\"Fires in the Kutai National Park and Bukit Soeharto forest
\nreserves are almost out,\" he told The Jakarta Post by telephone
\nfrom the province's capital, Samarinda.<\/p>\n
More than 70,000 hectares in the 200,000-hectare Kutai
\nnational Park, and close to 7,000 hectares of Bukit Soeharto,
\nhave been burned, he said.<\/p>\n
The province has an estimated 21 million hectares of forests.<\/p>\n
Despite the temporary relief brought by the rain, Awang
\nexpressed hope that the United Nations would soon realize its
\npledge to donate $10 million to help Indonesia address the
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
\"We need the fund to start working to anticipate future fire
\noutbreaks and also to help ease people's burdens as a consequence
\nof the fires,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Antara reported Saturday that the Wanariset
\nSembodja orangutan rehabilitation center on the outskirts of
\nSamarinda has secured 70 orangutans (pongo pygmaeus) who have
\nfled the forest seeking safety from the fires.<\/p>\n
Sadly, one of the rare mammals has died, said the center's
\nchief, Adi Susilo, reported Antara.<\/p>\n
He said most of those fleeing the forest were either starving
\nor had suffered burns.<\/p>\n
The orangutans' natural habitat was in the forest around Kutai
\nNational Park.<\/p>\n
\"Some of them were handed over by villagers who had tried to
\ntake care of them,\" Adi said.<\/p>\n
A total of 175 orangutans are currently living in the center,
\nwhich is said to only have a capacity to accommodate 150
\norangutans.<\/p>\n
An expert on orangutans to the Minister of Forestry, Dr.
\nWillie Smiths, said that, so far, 13 orangutans have been killed
\nduring forest fires.<\/p>\n
The orangutan population is, at present, estimated at just
\n2,000 across Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Antara also reported that despite recent rainfalls, fires were
\nstill raging on more than 4,000 hectares of forest concessions
\nand timber estates. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rainfall-brings-respite-for-fires-in-e-kalimantan-1447893297",
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