The impact of forest fires and resultant haze on terrestrial ecosystems and human health in central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Kalimantan, produced a smoky haze that persisted for many months and impacted the ter restrial ecosystems and the environment. These impacts can be classified into two categories, namely, those that affect human populations and those that cause damage to vegetation and wildlife. The impacts on humans generally influence public health, the quality of life and the economy. The principal ef fects on plants and animals consist of habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, in addition to migration and extinction of animal species when driven from their natural habitats. According to the experience of those living w i t h i n a r e a s a f f e c t e d b y t h e h a z e d i r e c t l y, technologies were not available to mitigate its damage. It could only be over come by the incidence of rain. It is concluded, therefore, that the most important action that needs to be taken to prevent the future occurrence of haze is the prevention of fires. At the University of Palangka Raya (UNPAR) a group of staff and students has already taken action to combat haze and its impacts by suppressing the land forest fires in and around Palangka Raya and preventing their initiation and spread. A concerted programme of education, information and training targeted at local communities in order to prevent recurrence of this serious problem is being proposed by UNPAR, in association with the Indonesian Ministr y of Environment and overseas aid agencies. If implemented, this will help to prevent fires being started and provide an inexpensive, but affective means of combating fires and haze if they occur in the future.