Kalimantan Mengering: Awal dari Sebuah Gurun di Nusantara

Summary

Borneo, the third-largest tropical island in the world, is home to unparalleled biodiversity and rich cultures. Divided politically among Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, the island's forests, rivers, and peat swamps play a crucial role in global climate regulation. However, rapid deforestation driven by palm oil plantations, mining, and illegal logging is threatening its ecological balance. As forests disappear, desertification looms, disrupting both nature and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples. The island's once vibrant ecosystem is at risk, with species and traditions facing extinction unless immediate action is taken to preserve this natural masterpiece.

Takeaways

• 😀 Borneo, the third largest tropical island, spans 743,330 km² and is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
• 🌳 The island is ecologically unified, with its forests and ecosystems transcending political borders, sustaining an incredible biodiversity.
• 🌍 Borneo is home to more than 15,000 species of flowering plants and thousands of animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
• ⏳ Kalimantan's tropical forests are over 130 million years old, making them older than the Amazon, and are crucial for regulating global climate.
• 🌱 Peat swamp forests in Kalimantan are critical natural carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon and playing a role in controlling climate change.
• 🏞 Rivers like the Kapuas, Barito, and Mahakam are vital to Kalimantan, serving as transportation routes and central to cultural life for local communities.
• 🌧️ Kalimantan's complex geography, including rivers, mountains, and swamps, has shaped the culture and livelihood of its people for generations.
• 🦧 Indigenous communities in Kalimantan have lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years, and view forests and rivers as sacred elements of their identity.
• 🔥 Kalimantan faces massive deforestation, with over 10 million hectares of forest lost between 2001 and 2022, largely due to palm oil plantations and mining.
• ☠️ The environmental destruction has led to widespread forest fires, habitat loss for species like orangutans, and disruptions to the water cycle, causing droughts and floods.
• 🏜️ Kalimantan is at risk of desertification, with soil erosion, loss of vegetation, and changing rainfall patterns contributing to the degradation of once-fertile land.

Q & A

What is the geographical size of Borneo, and how does it compare to other countries?

Borneo is the third-largest tropical island in the world, covering 743,330 km². It is larger than England, Germany, and Spain combined.

Which countries share the island of Borneo, and how is it politically divided?

Borneo is politically divided into three countries: Indonesia (73%), Malaysia (26%), and Brunei Darussalam (1%).

What is the significance of the name Kalimantan?

The name Kalimantan comes from the Sanskrit word 'Kalamantana,' meaning 'an island burned by the sun.' Despite this, Kalimantan is a humid, green, and tropical landscape.

Why is Borneo often referred to as a 'living laboratory'?

Borneo is called a 'living laboratory' because scientific expeditions often discover new species, highlighting the island's rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

How old are the tropical forests of Kalimantan, and what role do they play in the global climate?

The tropical forests of Kalimantan are over 130 million years old, making them older than the Amazon rainforest. These forests are vital in maintaining the world's climate balance by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

What is the ecological importance of peat swamp forests in Kalimantan?

Peat swamp forests in Kalimantan are crucial carbon sinks. They store large amounts of carbon, much more than ordinary forests, which helps control climate change.

How do rivers shape the life and culture of Kalimantan's people?

Rivers in Kalimantan are central to daily life, serving as highways, markets, places to bathe, and cultural spaces. The Kapuas, Barito, and Mahakam Rivers, in particular, are vital for transportation, culture, and local economies.

What is the impact of deforestation on Kalimantan's biodiversity and indigenous communities?

Deforestation in Kalimantan, caused by palm oil plantations, mining, and illegal logging, leads to habitat loss for species like orangutans and leopards, while also displacing indigenous communities. These communities are losing their ancestral land and facing increasing environmental challenges.

What are the main causes of desertification in Kalimantan?

Desertification in Kalimantan is caused by deforestation, soil erosion, and disruption of the water absorption system. This process leads to the loss of fertile soil, changes in rainfall patterns, and the collapse of ecosystems.

What does the future hold for Kalimantan's environment if deforestation continues?

If deforestation continues, Kalimantan could experience a significant decline in ecological capacity, leading to irreversible damage to its ecosystems. The landscape could become barren, and local communities and wildlife would suffer.