About Sungai Wain
The Sungai Wain Protection Forest (SWPF) is a relatively small (±10,000 ha) but vitally important lowland forest area. It supplies about 25% of the freshwater needs of Balikpapan (±700.000 inhabitants), including its large oil refinery. Sungai Wain has an unrivalled potential for research, education and ecotourism, as it is currently the last example of primary lowland rainforest in the Balikpapan-Samarinda area, yet only 30 minutes from the centre of Balikpapan. Because it consists of several types of lowland rainforest, Sungai Wain has exceptional biodiversity of primates, mammals, birds and plants.
Before 2002, illegal logging, poaching, and encroachment were rampant in SWPF and there was a major fire in 1998. After 2002, local government formed and funded a management unit, and protection of the forest improved dramatically.
Protection of the Sungai Wain Forest
Surrounded by development, Sungai Wain faces serious threats from illegal logging, encroachment and poaching. From 2002 to 2012, strong enforcement effectively protected the forest, and since the beginning of 2016, this system has been reintroduced. Poachers have been apprehended, their camps in the forest destroyed, and large numbers of snares have been removed.
Activities:
Forest Fire Prevention and Coal Fire Extinguishing
In 1998, about half of Sungai Wain and 90 sub-surface coal fires were ignited. Subsequently, the coal fires were manually extinguished, and for 17 years the forest was protected from fires. Sadly, in 2015 due to poor management, fires again burned over 1,000 ha of forest, and ignited several coal fires.
Future needs are clear: Reintroduce the fire prevention system that worked previously, and extinguish the coal fires.
Activities:
Operation to Support Sungai Wain Protection Forest
Pro Natura Foundation has been managing SWPF in 2016 under an MoU with the Environment Department, and has been asked by the Provincial Forestry Department to continue this work, until Forestry can source appropriate financial and human resources.