MP emphasises that forest fires threaten endemic species and genetic wealth

Every hotspot must be immediately verified in the field, its source traced, and addressed before it escalates into a major fire.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Rajiv, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), emphasised that forest and land fires (karhutla) threaten the survival of various endemic flora and fauna that constitute Indonesia’s natural genetic wealth.

He explained that Kalimantan is one of the world’s biodiversity hubs. Various endemic and rare Indonesian species, such as the hornbill, proboscis monkey, orangutan, ulin trees, and many orchid species, are at risk of extinction due to fires.

“When forests burn, it is not just trees that are lost, but also food sources, water, and ultimately habitats, meaning our endemic wildlife and genetic wealth face potential extinction,” Rajiv said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Therefore, he stated that mitigation efforts must be implemented to ensure the safety of animals that escape into plantation areas, secondary forests, or settlements, as the risk of human-wildlar conflict continues to increase.

On the other hand, ecosystem recovery cannot be achieved simply by replanting trees, as food chains and the ecological functions of forests require a very long time to reform.

He urged the government to change its approach to handling forest fires from the currently dominant reactive method to permanent, risk-based prevention involving all stakeholders, ranging from the Ministry of Forestry and law enforcement to indigenous communities.

“Every hotspot must be immediately verified in the field, its source traced, and addressed before it escalates into a major fire,” he said.

To this end, he believes that wildlife protection must be integrated into every forest fire management plan. According to him, critical habitat areas located outside conservation zones must also receive protection through ecological corridors, preservation areas, and cooperation with concession holders and local communities.

“The Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Environment need to establish wildlife emergency response protocols that include the mapping of protected areas and wildlife corridors, rescue teams and wildlife health services, the provision of temporary habitats, and post-fire monitoring,” he added.