forest fires in Kalimantan

Forest area in East Kalimantan since 1982 the situation is quite dry for burning
and is bad for the future of Borneo in the century. Analysis made Leighton (1984)
to East Kalimantan on annual rainfall patterns show that the area was strongly
influenced by the seasonal warming of sea water that hit the waters of Peru and
Ecuador, known as El Nino.

This phenomenon resulted in heavy rains in the Eastern Pacific region and the
lack of precipitation in the western Pacific. There are allegations that the drought
in Borneo suffered years it might be an event that repeats every 100 years. Data
concerning the events in the past can not be obtained so that opinion is not
verifiable. As known, a fire took place in the forest complex with species richness
remaining in Southeast Asia. East Kalimantan is the center of distribution of tree
species, including family Dipterocarpaceae important economic.

The area is located along the Equator that is the habitat of many species whose
population is rare and endangered, such as the orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus),
proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), banteng (Bos javanicus), bears (Helartos
malayanus), and many types rangkok birds, as well as the well-known tree species,
such as meranti, lianas, orchids, palms, and fruit trees, the wild life. Some types of
wildlife can avoid the fire, but many others were destroyed. Allegedly many types
of plants and rare animals which have not been recognized by biologists has been
decimated by fire.

Fire in East Kalimantan has also mengancurkan timber trade in very large
quantities. Lennertz and Pance (1983) mentions that in unlogged forest Dalan,
sabagai a result of the fire was approximately 50% of the timber that is economical
die tebakar or experiencing drought, with a value of US $ 2 miliard. An estimated
60% of the forests have been concessioned yanh also damaged so as not to produce
at all logs. These losses are thought to range between US $ 3.6 to 6 miliard based
on the calculation of the value of timber potential. Many trees in the forest were
spared from the fire today has been plagued by insect borers wood and by a
parasitic fungus and will soon be dead, too. Other trees may be tertebang as well as
other trees. Many questions arise as to how the process of forest recovery of forest
damage due to the fire by a large fire will last. The procession of succession is
certainly different when compared with the incidence in the forest area diramba by
shifting the case moving
 From research Riswan and Joseph (1984) concluded that forest fires in KALTIM
caused the death of 130 trees per hectare in primary forests and 197 trees per
hectare in the old secondary forest. Six months after the fire had lived almost 23%
of the remaining trees in the primary forest, while 32.5% of the trees are left in the
old secondary forest will sprout again and ironwood trees (Eusideroxylon zwageri)
appears to be a plant that able come back to life after the time of fire. From surveys
it appears that some of the burned area had been covered again by melebat
secondary vegetation, such as plants open-vines of Convolvulaceae and
Cucurbitaceae. In places open secondary vegetation dominated by Macaranga,
Trema, Mollotus, Omallanthus, and the type of secondary plants and shrubs. Of
course heavily burnt areas never again restored to its original state with its
ecological diversity.

Many more other problems arise from the fires in KALTIM. Among others, soil
erosion, destruction of land, flooding and washed away by the river Mahakam.
This last problem can override the fisheries business in inland areas along the river
and complicate logging operations that rely efforts to transport stream. It is likely
that the incidence of fires caused erosion constantly and at other times of drought
stricken. Very many stands of dead trees and dense vegetation ground cover to be
easily ignited fire if a dry environment.