Borneo Fire Relief

Fires have burned nearly 2 million acres of forest across Borneo and Sumatra, in areas home to more than half of the Critically Endangered Bornean Orangutan population.

Donate to Fight the Fires

Borneo is burning.

It’s a climate and biodiversity crisis.

Nearly 2 million acres (800,000 hectares) of forest – 10 times the size of New York City – have burned across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, with Central and West Kalimantan among the worst affected areas. The fires are burning in areas that contain more than half of the Critically Endangered Bornean Orangutan population and include important strongholds for Bornean White-bearded Gibbons.

The government of Indonesia, firefighters, local communities, conservation organizations, wildlife rescuers and researchers are all responding to the fires.

But they need help.

Here's what's needed to stop the fires.

The IUCN Primate Specialist Group's Sections on Great and Small Apes is asking for urgent international assistance in four areas.
Send Support
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    Fire Response

    Technical and financial support for firefighting operations and teams

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    Direct Relief

    Support for affected communities and wildlife

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    Forest Protection

    Prevention of fire spread into irreplaceable forests

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    Peat Recovery

    Sustained investment to recover tropical peat forests

Fires pose a serious threat to the lives and health of orangutans, gibbons and humans.

Approximately 5.5 million people have been exposed to wildfire smoke, while the impacts of the fires on orangutans are already devastating. In West Kalimantan alone, 23 orangutans affected or displaced by the fires have been rescued, and more rescues are anticipated as the fires continue. One adult male, found severely weakened and struggling to breathe in an oil palm plantation, died from smoke exposure despite emergency treatment. Other orangutans have been rescued from locations across Central Kalimantan or have been observed fleeing burning forests, entering farmlands and settlements as their habitat disappears.

The impacts are equally devastating to gibbons which share these rapidly dwindling forests. Spending almost all of their time in trees, they have limited ability to cross burned or open land to escape advancing fires. Past El Niño-induced fires have killed thousands of orangutans, gibbons and other vulnerable wildlife species. Without urgent action, thousands more could be killed, injured or displaced.

Peatland fires are particularly dangerous. When peatlands are drained, dry peat ignites easily and can continue smouldering below the surface for weeks or months. Surface flames may be extinguished while peat fire can spread underground, cross conventional firebreaks and re-emerge in areas that appeared secure.

Your support can help provide urgently needed resources to the organizations fighting these fires on the ground.

By donating, you can help strengthen frontline firefighting efforts, protect critical ape habitat and support the teams working to prevent further loss of wildlife and forest.

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