The situation has escalated – and so has our firefighting
An exceptionally strong El Niño drought has left the peatlands of Central Kalimantan dangerously dry. Fires are burning through drained and degraded peatland, threatening communities, wildlife and some of the most important remaining tropical forests on Earth.
For the first time this year, flames have entered Sebangau National Park, home to the largest known population of Critically Endangered Bornean orangutans. This vast peat-swamp ecosystem is also a globally important carbon store, making its protection vital for both biodiversity and our climate.
The situation
A recent fire breached the park’s northern boundary. Our field teams and community firefighters responded rapidly, fighting the flames and pushing the fire back from the forest. Thankfully, no primary forest was affected, and the fire was confined to sedge vegetation. Although it continues to burn in surrounding areas, the immediate threat to the wider forest has been greatly reduced.
Today, multiple fires remain active, including a fire line more than 30 kilometres long along the northeastern edge of Sebangau. Community firefighting teams are patrolling continuously, wetting forest edges and monitoring fire fronts.
Elsewhere, the situation remains challenging. Fires are burning close to the park in several locations, and our teams are working tirelessly alongside the Sebangau National Park Agency and local authorities to prevent flames from entering the forest. Despite our best efforts, we are sad to report that the Hiu Putih reforestation site, which harboured around 45,000 young saplings, has been destroyed. Access is currently extremely difficult because peat is burning along the routes into the area, so we are coordinating water-bombing helicopters while monitoring the forest closely.
Stand with us
These are perilous conditions. Our firefighters are working around the clock in intense heat and choking smoke, often far from roads and other infrastructure. They are not only protecting the forest and its wildlife; they are protecting their own communities, homes and livelihoods from the devastating effects of fire and haze.
We are currently spending around US$100 per day, per firefighting team to keep our teams equipped, fed, safe and operational. Our emergency reserves are being rapidly depleted, and the forecasts suggest that this fire season could continue for some time.
We know that communities and conservation organisations across Borneo are facing the same crisis. We also know that we may not be able to save everything. But rapid, sustained action can make the difference between a fire being contained and a much larger disaster.
Please help us keep our teams on the front line. Your support will provide the equipment, water, food and operational resources needed to protect Sebangau, its orangutans and the countless other species that depend on this extraordinary peat-swamp forest.
If you can, please consider making your donation a monthly recurring gift. Regular support gives our teams the resources they need to be ready when the next fire threatens.
Together, we can give Sebangau and its wildlife the best possible chance through this difficult fire season.
