Forest Fires Endanger Rare Flora and Fauna in Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Forest and land fires pose a serious threat to the sustainability of Indonesia’s ecosystems. These fires not only destroy forest cover but also endanger endemic flora and fauna that form part of the nation’s natural genetic wealth. As such, the issue must be viewed as an ecological crisis rather than merely a matter of extinguishing flames.

Lawmaker Rajiv of the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Commission IV said Kalimantan, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, faces a grave threat from forest and land fires.

Many endemic and rare Indonesian species--including hornbills, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, ironwood trees (ulin), and various orchid species--are at risk of being affected or driven to extinction if the fires continue.

“When forests burn, we lose more than just trees. We also lose food sources and water. Ultimately, we lose habitats, which puts our endemic wildlife and genetic wealth at risk of extinction,” Rajiv said in Jakarta on Thursday, September 3, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that the impact on wildlife does not end once the flames are extinguished. Animals that survive the blaze continue to face threats due to the loss of habitat and food sources. In such conditions, wildlife may move into plantation areas, secondary forests, or even human settlements.

This displacement, driven by habitat destruction, increases the potential for human–wildlife conflict. Rajiv said the presence of animals that escape the fires requires immediate management to prevent new problems from emerging in surrounding areas.

“Even animals that escape face ongoing threats due to the loss of their homes and food sources. They can also create new conflicts with communities living near the forest,” he said.

Rajiv added that post‑fire recovery requires more than simply planting new trees. Forest ecosystems are complex and take a long time to recover. He urged the government to shift from a reactive approach to a permanent, risk‑based prevention system involving all stakeholders, from relevant ministries to indigenous communities.

He emphasized that forest and land fires should be treated as an ecological crisis, not just a fire‑suppression issue. The government, he said, must establish an integrated command system that connects all stakeholders in fire‑prevention and response efforts.

“Every hotspot must be verified on the ground immediately, its source traced, and the situation addressed before it escalates into a major fire,” he said.

Rajiv also stressed that wildlife protection must be an integral part of forest‑fire management plans. Critical habitats located outside designated conservation areas, he said, must be protected through ecological corridors, preservation zones, and collaboration with concession holders and local communities.

“The Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Environment need to establish wildlife emergency response protocols that include mapping protected areas and wildlife corridors, deploying wildlife rescue and veterinary teams, providing temporary habitats, and conducting post‑fire monitoring,” he said. ***