The forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan in 2002 constituted the province’s biggest environmental disaster since a similar disaster in 1997. The fires this year occurred mostly in peatlands, specifically those in the area of the discontinued million-hectare Mega rice project (Block C and vicinity), parts of Palangka Raya (such as Tumbang Nusa), as well as forest fires at a number of locations in plantations and forests concession areas [HPH, Hak Pengusahaan Hutan]

The land/forest fires of 2002 caused thick smoke-haze which persisted continuously for a whole month (mainly September), resulting in serious disruption to transportation services, whether by land, water or air. Tjilik Riwut airport in Palangkaraya, for example, was unable to operate for more than a month, with the result that all air traffic had to be diverted to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Another consequence of the fires was the high levels of air pollution which posed a serious hazard to human health.

Concerned at the disaster, Wetlands International Indonesia Programme, supported with funds from CIDA (under the CCFPI1 project in Central Kalimantan) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/DGIS (under the Global Peatland Initiative), provided assistance to those parties directly involved in putting out the fires in the field and to health care for communities directly affected by the disaster. The funds were channeled into the purchase of fire-fighting equipment (water pumps and plastic hose), transport (including fuel), food and medicines for the fire-fighters in the field, and support for health services for people in the area of Palangkaraya. The health services were carried out on 7 and 11 October 2002 (in two locations), while the support to firefighters was provided from 2 – 29 September 2002 (facilitated under the CFPI-WI central Kalimantan office) and to the TSA CIMTROP-UNPAR was provided earlier (of between 25 July 2002 until 25 October 2002) and organized by CIMTROP.

This report describes the types of activities and output achieved by Wetlands International Indonesia Programme/WI-IP (coordinated by the CCFPI-WI Project Coordinator in Palangka Raya) during the fires in the first, second, third and fourth weeks of September 2002 in Central Kalimantan, with financial support from CCFPI-CIDA and DGIS-GPI Netherlands. [note: during the first two weeks of September, i.e. 2-15 September 2002, the activities mainly spread over the area of Bukit Keminting, Obos and Kalampangan, while in the third and fourth weeks, i.e. 9-28 September, in Tumbang Nusa area and along the South Axis of the Trans Kalimantan Highway Central Kalimantan].

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