Orangutan escaping fire Tanjung Puting October 2015

Fighting fire Bungur (Sumatra) 2014. Advanced reforestation trees burnt.

Pump donated by SIES Tanjung Puting 2015

Why we need more fire fighting equipment

The fires in late 2015 destroyed massive swathes of land through Sumatra and Borneo. The impacts were devastating on people, wildlife and forests. The global impact in terms of forest lost and carbon emissions was equally devastating. In over just 3 weeks in October the fires in Indonesia exceeded the entire annual CO2 emissions of Germany.  (Global Fires Emission Database)

In Tanjung Puting National Park (Kalimantan) where SIES is active in supporting local fire fighters, reforestation and land purchases, approximately 120, 000 hectares were destroyed. The Park is home to a significant population of threatened orangutans. 

In Sumatra in Way Kambas National Park 75% of the habitat has been degraded and up to 50% suffers from frequent forest and grass fire during the dry season. The population of Sumatran rhinos and tigers in Way Kambas NP is dangerously low.  Increasing habitat is key to providing for an increase in rhino and tiger populations.  An increase in numbers is essential to protect them from inbreeding or a single extinction-causing catastrophic event. However where habitat is small tigers will explore into less optimal habitat and often this leads to their death.   Improved habitat with dense cover can will provide for tiger territorial population expansion in the short term and rhino in the long term.    

Nearly all reforestation projects in Way Kambas NP have failed due to a lack of on-going protection and adequate fire management over the long-term.  Arsonists have destroyed many valuable and extensive habitat projects.  In 2011, up to 50% of WKNP was burned and again in 2012, with widespread loss of reforestation work.  Long-term police guard protection and suitable fire fighting equipment are proving to be integral to habitat expansion success.  

Thanks to donations from Victoria Zoo we have been able to purchase 4WD vehicles with water tanks and build rainwater tanks on site for quick access. (Way Kambas)

Thanks to our fund raising campaigns and generous donors we were able to purchase pumps for fire fighting teams in Kalimantan and Sumatra.