8 Conservation Parks In South Kalimantan Optimized To Save Orchid Habitat From Forest And Land Fire Threats

One of the rare orchid plants in Kalimantan is the Phalaenopsis Gigantea species, in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Wednesday (11/10/2023). (ANTARA/Tumpal Andani Aritonang)

SOUTH KALIMANTAN - The Indonesian Orchid Lovers Regional Management Board (PAI) of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) has optimized 8 conservation parks to save orchid plant habitats from the threat of forest and land fires (kathutla).

"In Kalimantan there are around 3,000 species orchids, our step is to mobilize administrators in districts to move habitats from forest and land fires to conservation parks," said South Kalimantan PAI DPD Chairman Arinda Dian Susanti in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Wednesday, October 11, quoted by Antara.

He said the eight orchid conservation parks were scattered in Banjarmasin, Banjarbaru, Tanah Laut, Hulu Sungai Selatan, Hulu Sungai Tengah, Hulu Sungai Utara, Tabalong, and Balangan.

"Until now, no orchids have been affected by forest and land fires, but although forest and land fires do not directly hit orchid plants, smoke and heat can inhibit the growth of species orchids," he said.

According to him, if forest and land fires are accompanied by a prolonged summer, the species' rare orchid habitat could be threatened with extinction, especially that species orchids take years to flower, some even taking up to 20 years.

He said that although the location of fires in South Kalimantan was dominated by peatlands, it still threatens the presence of orchids because their living habitat in South Kalimantan is not only in the forest but in peatlands or swamp areas.

He said orchid plants have many benefits apart from the beauty side, one of which is as an oxygen contributor plant for clean air.

Arinda explained that the extinction of orchid plants was not only caused by forest fires but also efforts to transfer the function of forests that did not pay attention to the existence and sustainability of orchids.

He regretted those who did not pay attention to orchid conservation, even though Kalimantan is the largest habitat for species orchids out of a total of 5,000 species in Indonesia, 3,000 species of which are on the island of Borneo.

He hopes that the local government will soon find a solution to overcome forest and land fires, which continues to occur every year in South Kalimantan. Moreover, currently the long dry season certainly has a negative impact on the growth process of all types of plants.

"We are trying our best to save orchids from the threat of forest and land fires," he said.