South Kalimantan BKSDA pushes for expansion of preservation areas to protect 3,757 proboscis monkeys
Banjarmasin (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is pushing for the expansion of Preservation Areas (AP) to strengthen the protection of habitats for 3,757 proboscis monkeys spread across 11 regencies and cities, particularly against the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla).
“We are coordinating with local governments and relevant parties to promote this AP scheme to expand conservation space in order to maintain wildlife, specifically for the proboscis monkey,” said the Head of BKSDA South Kalimantan, Agus Ngurah Krisna, as confirmed in Banjarmasin on Friday.
BKSDA is promoting this scheme after the BKSDA South Kalimantan Wildlife Rescue Team discovered 12 individual proboscis monkeys dead due to land fires in Balimau Village, Kalumpang District, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, on Sunday (13/9). In addition to the monkeys, the team also found one python and one king cobra that had died due to the fire.
“The wildlife habitat at the fire site is located within Other Use Areas (APL) or outside forest areas, consisting of approximately eight hectares of village land and about 1.3 hectares of private land, with vegetation cover including shrubs, galam, renghas, bungur, and halaban. Both habitat areas are fragmented by an asphalt road,” he said.
The proboscis monkey habitat in the conservation area consists of mangrove and lowland ecosystems, while populations outside the conservation area occupy regions that require habitat protection support through appropriate conservation schemes.
As a pilot project, Agus mentioned that BKSMA South Kalimantan, together with the Tanah Laut Regency Government, is currently proposing a 500-hectare proboscis monkey habitat preservation area in Panjaratan Village, Tanah Laut Regency.
Based on the most recent monitoring of the Panjaratan Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE) in 2022, the number of proboscis monkey habitats in that area reached approximately 207 individuals.
Agus revealed that the threat to these habitats persists amidst the high frequency of forest and land fires in South Kalimantan. From January to 14 September 2024, the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded 3,220 forest and land fire incidents, with an estimated burnt area reaching 21,414.43 hectares.
BKSDA South Kalimantan is following up on these incidents by verifying the species and number of animals that have died, conducting burials, and checking for the presence of other wildlife at the site to ensure no animals are sick or in need of evacuation.
The team is also assessing the feasibility of the habitat at the incident site and preparing translocation measures if necessary, accompanied by socialisation and education for the community as part of the handling of affected wildlife and the prevention of threats to the habitat.
BKSDA South Kalimantan is coordinating with the Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency Government and relevant parties to promote the Preservation Area scheme to expand conservation space to protect wildlife in areas outside of formal conservation zones.
In accordance with Law Number 32 of 2024 regarding the amendment to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, Preservation Areas refer to regions outside Nature Reserve Areas and Nature Preservation Areas where ecological conditions are maintained to support life-sustaining functions and preserve biodiversity.