Saving what's left of forest foliage and its precious fauna

Saving what's left of forest foliage and its precious fauna

By P.J. Leo

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan (JP): The fires in East Kalimantan
are far from dying down. Who knows how many decades will pass
before the forests are green again and safe for all its
inhabitants.

Now, coal sources are exposed to the sun's rays; the trees
protecting them no longer stand. Fires from under the earth
ignite surrounding dry foliage and spread rapidly.

The Wain River forest reserve has not been spared, only 3,500
hectares of 10,000 hectares remain. It is the only water source
for the oil city of Balikpapan.

Willie Smits of the nearby Wanariset Samboja research center
or said that when the river dries up, the only solution for a
water supply would be to build a sea-water installation.

Speaking in early April to officials of the local
Environmental Impact Management Agency and Vico Indonesia, Smits
said, "Maybe Pertamina (the state oil company), which is very
dependent on the Wain, and other parties can join and do what
must be done here. Help us put out the fire now..."

Charred vegetation is everywhere. Animals who usually shy away
from humans now lie around helpless. Orangutan babies are falling
from trees, unable to live with the smoke and heat.

"We have treated 150 orangutan during the drought," said
Smits. He and his colleagues have been patrolling the area night
and day, but have been unable to stop the fire; only 20 hectares
of the 3,500 hectares of the research area remain.

The fires also threaten wells and oil and gas pipes. Scarred
areas and smoke surround the mining area of Vico Indonesia in
Muarabadak, Kutai, East Kalimantan.

Field superintendent for health safety and environment of
Pertamina Vico, Kartono Pawiro, said that although the pipes are
heat resistance, they could explode if exposed to continuous
fire.

"During the drought, fires occur everyday in the forests and
in sites around drilling and pipes," he said.

Bontang and Kutai also house other Pertamina partners, such as
Unocal Indonesie and Total Indonesie, which export to Japan,
Korea and Taiwan.

Residents wake up every day wondering where they will get
clean water. The city and its outskirts are witness to the same
scenes of people walking long distances to queue in long lines
for water.