Emergency Situation Facing Orangutans as Fires Break Out in Sebangau National Park.
We have just received a very worrying email from colleagues working near Sebangau National Park, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. They report a sad and dangerous situation in Sebangau and Kalampangan, where there are big fires in both areas. There are orangutans in the forest where these fires are now threatening. Please donate whatever you can to help avert this desperate situation. The size of the fire was approximately 400 X 500 meters and has been covering the Kalampangan area now for days. Mr Suwido and his team from CIMTROP (Centre for International Cooperation in the Management of Tropical Peatland) have been trying to dig wells but the budget is very limited. Their operations will have to stop in the next few days if they cannot generate a supporting budget. By Suwido's calculation, to continue the operation of protection against fire in Kalampangan , minimally, he needs a support budget of US $ 6.000. The situation is predicted to worsen over the coming weeks as conditions become drier.Again we ask you to please donate whatever you can to help avert this desperate situation. Please use the general donation button and leave a comment stating it is for Sebangau. From past experience this situation can be controlled, they just need the resources to do it.Further Information About Sebangau Forests
The Sebangau Forest is the largest non-fragmented area of lowland rainforest remaining in Borneo and supports the largest population of the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) with with 6,900 individuals estimated to occur here. This represents 12.5% of the estimated remaining world population of this endangered species.
The Sebangau Forest is of global importance as a major store of carbon. Underlying the forest is peat formed from partially decayed plant matter, which reaches a maximum thickness of 15m. If the peat is dried, cut or burnt, or if the overlying forest is cleared, the peat degrades by oxidation and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, further exacerbating the problem of climate change.