FIGHTING FIRES IN BORNEO'S FORESTS
ENVIRONMENT Wildfires are common on the island of Borneo, due to its dry climate and deforestation. The fires destroy the island’s tropical forests and carbon-rich peatlands, home to the world’s largest orangutan population.
The Power of Mama, the first women-only firefighting team in this Indonesia-governed region of Borneo, are not only protecting Borneo’s landscape and wildlife but also advancing gender equality by breaking into the traditionally male-dominated field of firefighting. The project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and supported by Yayasan International Animal Rescue Indonesia.
Wearing orange vests and helmets, the volunteer firefighters ride motorbikes across the island, aided by drones that survey the forests from above to locate active blazes. Beyond extinguishing flames, they also champion sustainable farming practices within remote communities on the island, such as crop rotation and composting.
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