Activists Urge Stronger Forest Protections Amid Kalimantan Wildfires
- 15 Sep 2026 01:41 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Environmental activists urge stronger legal protection for forest habitats affected by wildfires and haze in Kalimantan.
- They emphasize that stronger habitat safeguards are needed to protect orangutans and other wildlife from respiratory and ecological impacts.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Environmental activists are urging the government to strengthen legal protections for forest areas hosting Bornean orangutans and other indigenous wildlife as seasonal wildfires generate widespread smoke across Kalimantan.
The call from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) followed Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s inspection of the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
During the visit, he observed caretakers treating orangutans suffering respiratory problems caused by haze, using medical nebulizers supplied by the Ministry of Forestry.
BOSF leaders stressed that the health impact on orangutans reflects wider ecological distress across unmonitored forest areas. Environmentalists urged the government to halt land conversion in remaining habitats and upgrade zoning classifications for active wildlife corridors.
Conservationists welcomed high‑level engagement but emphasized the need for structural reforms to protect primary forests from deforestation and clearing. BOSF Chief Executive Officer Jamartin Sihite underscored the broader implications of wildfire smoke.
“If orangutans are affected, imagine the other wild animals in the forest. This must receive serious attention from the President and Vice President,” he said in Jakarta on Monday, September 14, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Jamartin praised the Vice President’s on‑site inspection, noting that firsthand observation highlighted the challenges faced by rehabilitation teams. He detailed emergency support provided by the central government, including nebulizers, oxygen supplies, and firefighting equipment.
Reflecting on policy, Jamartin acknowledged progress but urged stronger permanent protections. “Current conservation attention from the government is better than before, but it must continue to be elevated. Forest areas still eligible for conversion should receive legal protection if proven to be wildlife habitats,” he concluded. ***
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