200 Hectares of Orangutan Habitats in Critical Conditions: Report
28 November 2015 16:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Balikpapan - The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) reported that due to forest fires in Kalimantan on September this year, at least 200 hectares of forest lands that are also the habit of orangutans in Samboja, East Kalimantan, were in a critical condition.
The area of conservation forests owned by BOSF was previously used as a primate orangutan school before they are returned to their habitats in forests in Kalimantan.
“200 hectares of BOSF lands were burned,” said BOSF Program Manager Agus Irwanto on Saturday (28/11).
Agus said that the agency found difficulties restoring the condition of the forest and BOSF re-planted only 10 hectares.
"There are still hundreds of hectares that are not re-planted yet,” he added.
According to Agus, the conservation forest needs at least the planting of 80,000 new seeds in an area covering 200 hectares. He also said that the budget for the reforestation of BOSF lands reaches Rp. 480 million used to buy seeds.
The planting of the seeds also needs up to 15 years to grow and to be able to be used as the playground of orangutans.
Currently, BOSF is forced to relocate the locations of training for orangutans to other locations that are not much affected by the haze. Agus also said that BOSF need funds and assistance from volunteers and environmental activist. He also said that cooperation is needed to save the school.
SG WIBISONO