About Forests in Kalimantan

Kalimantan Island is one of the world's lungs covering 40.8 millions hectares. Unfortunately, the deforestation rate in Kalimantan is very high. According to the Forestry Department, the rate between 2000 and 2005 period reached 1.23 millions hectares. In other words, 673 hectares forests in Kalimantan were cut every day. While according to Greenpeace, the forests in Kalimantan remained 25.5 millions hectares in 2010.

About Forests in Kalimantan

According to State of the World's Forests 2007 published by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), the deforestation rate in Indonesia for 2000 - 2005 period was 1.8 millions hectares per year. This high rate has made Indonesia received a shameful title from the Guinness Book of Records as the country with the fastest forest degradation in the world.

The deforestation in Indonesia is caused by the logging companies shrinking the natural forests. Forest conversion for palm oil plantation also becomes a major factor for the rapid deforestation. Forest conversion for palm oil plantation has destroyed more than 7 millions hectares forests in 1997.

Forest decline in quantity and quality in Kalimantan has posed serious threat for the rare wildlife in Kalimantan like the orangutan, the proboscis monkey, sun bear, and many types of gibbon. The rare wildlife are brought further to the brink of extinction due to both habitat loss and poaching.

© 2003 - ProFauna Indonesia

ProFauna Indonesia is an Indonesian society for the protection of
wild animals and their habitats