Rainfall brings respite for fires in E. Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): Intermittent rainfall in many areas of East Kalimantan recently has brought relief to the fire-ravaged province, where almost 500,000 hectares of forests have been razed this year, resulting in an estimated loss of Rp 9.2 trillion (US$1.15 billion) in timber revenues.

Head of the provincial Environmental Impact Management Agency, Awang Farouk Ishak, said that despite the rain, the problem was still "worrisome" because underground fires, kept alive by coal seams, continue to ignite in many areas of the province.

"Fires in the Kutai National Park and Bukit Soeharto forest reserves are almost out," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone from the province's capital, Samarinda.

More than 70,000 hectares in the 200,000-hectare Kutai national Park, and close to 7,000 hectares of Bukit Soeharto, have been burned, he said.

The province has an estimated 21 million hectares of forests.

Despite the temporary relief brought by the rain, Awang expressed hope that the United Nations would soon realize its pledge to donate $10 million to help Indonesia address the disaster.

"We need the fund to start working to anticipate future fire outbreaks and also to help ease people's burdens as a consequence of the fires," he said.

Separately, Antara reported Saturday that the Wanariset Sembodja orangutan rehabilitation center on the outskirts of Samarinda has secured 70 orangutans (pongo pygmaeus) who have fled the forest seeking safety from the fires.

Sadly, one of the rare mammals has died, said the center's chief, Adi Susilo, reported Antara.

He said most of those fleeing the forest were either starving or had suffered burns.

The orangutans' natural habitat was in the forest around Kutai National Park.

"Some of them were handed over by villagers who had tried to take care of them," Adi said.

A total of 175 orangutans are currently living in the center, which is said to only have a capacity to accommodate 150 orangutans.

An expert on orangutans to the Minister of Forestry, Dr. Willie Smiths, said that, so far, 13 orangutans have been killed during forest fires.

The orangutan population is, at present, estimated at just 2,000 across Kalimantan.

Antara also reported that despite recent rainfalls, fires were still raging on more than 4,000 hectares of forest concessions and timber estates. (aan)