Rainfall brings respite for fires in E. Kalimantan

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)