West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency Prioritises Orangutan Protection During Forest Fires
The West Kalimantan Natural and Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is prioritising the protection of orangutans and their habitats amidst the rising threat of forest and land fires during the dry season.
“The effort to protect and preserve orangutans and their habitats is one of the priorities for BKSDA West Kalimantan. To ensure the safety of protected animals from the peak impacts of the dry season and potential habitat disturbances, field officers are continuously conducting firefighting operations in forest and land fire areas,” said the Head of the Administrative Sub-division of BKSDA West Kalimantan, Imam Setyo Hartanto, in Pontianak on Tuesday.
He stated that BKSDA West Kalimantan is preparing rescue and translocation steps for orangutans that are affected or threatened by forest and land fires. According to him, these fires do not only result in forest cover damage but also threaten the safety of wildlife and narrow the roaming range and food sources for orangutans.
BKSDA West Kalimantan previously conducted orangutan rescues from fire-affected areas in Ketapang Regency as part of mitigation efforts against the threat of forest fires to protected species. Fires and habitat fragmentation are considered drivers that can push orangutans out of forest areas, increasing the potential for human-wildlife conflict.
Imam noted that addressing threats to orangutans cannot be undertaken by the government alone; therefore, the involvement of indigenous peoples, local communities, academics, the business world, and civil society organisations is essential.
“Orangutan conservation amidst the threats of habitat degradation and forest and land fire disasters requires support from various parties. Increasing the capacity of indigenous peoples and local communities is also a foundation for the success of conservation plans and sustainable area management,” he said.
He added that West Kalimantan is a vital region for orangutan conservation as it serves as a habitat for two subspecies, namely Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii and Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus.
In Kapuas Hulu Regency, the population of Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus—known to the local Dayak community as “Mayas”—is spread across the Danau Sentarum National Park, Betung Kerihun National Park, the Labian-Leboyan Corridor, and landscapes connected to Batang Ai-Lanjak Entimau in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Based on the 2016 Orangutan Population and Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA) document, the population of Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus is estimated to have only about 4,520 individuals remaining, with approximately 2,470 individuals reported to be in Kapuas Hulu Regency.
Riyandi, an academic from the Biology Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Untan, stated that orangutans play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, as they are an umbrella species requiring vast roaming ranges and habitats.
Meanwhile, BKSDA West Kalimantan, alongside local governments, academics, and several conservation institutions, continues to push for the strengthened protection of important areas, including the Labian-Leboyan Corridor, which serves as a habitat link between Betung Kerihun National Park and Danau Sentarum National Park.
Efforts to protect habitats and control forest fires must proceed simultaneously, as forest fires threaten the existence of wildlife, destroy food sources, and increase pressure on orangutan populations that have already declined due to habitat degradation and fragmentation.