There have been 40 people died at mining pits in East Kalimantan and only case has been prosecuted.
In South Kalimantan, 399,000 hectares (41%) of the 974,000 hectares of Meratus forest area are controlled by mining permits. The Meratus Dayak community is the most affected, especially due to the 2021 flash floods and landslides.
Illegal coal mining companies has been increasing significantly in Central Kalimantan, especially in the Barito area. Countless trucks milled about, along with illegal stockpiles in the villages around the sites.
West Kalimantan is now ranked as the province with the second largest oil palm plantation area, which is 2 million hectares out of a total of 5.8 million hectares of oil palm in Kalimantan. Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan is the third largest with an area of 1.9 million hectares.
Not only these extractive industries have taken a toll on the land and violate the rights of the Dayak communities, they have also become a significant threat to the survival of the endemic plants of Borneo.
Whenever I went to the villages, I always asked the elders, “What is your hope for the Kalimantan?” Surprisingly, all of them had the same answer.
“Whatever is left from the remain forests, please don’t destroy it anymore.”
That’s when I decided to do what I was supposed to do five years ago.
It takes five years to me to brace myself and start Save Kalimantan Remain Forest campaign. Last year, we have successfully secured six hectares of the Tangkiling peat forest. It’s a little triumph which set a resolve in our hearts to save more forests. Two months ago, we launched a fundraising to Save Talekoi forests.
Forest area of 30 hectares. This is the first property offered to us.
Buying these properties necessary to be done before the mining companies bought the land. When we did survey last time, we found out that the area has been targeted as the next location of sand mining. Moreover, based on the information we obtained from the villagers, palm oil plantations will also be opened soon.
There are total 30 hectares that we need to secure. For now, we target to raise 6,000 $ by October and secure four hectares (40,000 sqm) of the forest. Every 15$ will save 100-meter square of the forest. Per today, we have reached 20% of the amount needed.
Please, donate now and help us to purchase Talekoi Forest!
If you have any questions about the purchase and protection of Talekoi Forest or any of our projects please email me at emmanuela.shinta@ranuwelum.org
With gratitude,
Emmanuela Shinta