Orangutan population up in Sebangau National Park | Partners | Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA
PALANGKA LANGKA RAYA, 21 June (BelTA — ANTARA) — The population of
orangutans in Sebangau National Park (TNS) in Central Kalimantan has
increased, according to Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry,
Alue Dohong.
On the sidelines of a national seminar in Palangka
Raya on Thursday, he said that based on the 2016 Population and Habitat
Viability Analysis (PHVA), the orangutan population in TNS was estimated
at 6,080 and has grown to an estimated range of 8,772 to 8,973.
Dohong
said that the increase in the orangutan population in the national
park, which covers an area of 543,871 hectares, is a positive indicator
that their natural conditions and ecosystem are improving.
He underscored that orangutans have an important role in forest seed dispersal.
«Orangutans
also play a role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems, and
they also act as protectors of other species whose lives depend on
forest ecosystems,» he said.
Ruswanto, the Sebangau National Park
Office (BTNS) head, said that his office has gradually succeeded in
restoring the ecosystem in the national park area through various
efforts, including replanting as well as creating and repairing canal
blocks.
TNS straddles three regions of Central Kalimantan, namely Palangka Raya City, Katingan District, and Pulang Pisau District.
«So
far, forest fires and orangutan hunting are the threats,» Ruswanto
said. «We can say that forest and land fires are currently the biggest
threats.»
The office is continuing to cooperate with various
parties to protect the ecosystem in TNS, including by monitoring its
natural conditions.
