Oil Palm Plantations That Destroy Bornean Orangutan Habitats

Oil Palm Plantations That Destroy Bornean Orangutan Habitats

Deforestation Visible in West Kalimantan Village

Oil Palm Plantations That Destroy Bornean – In the village of Sungai Senunuk, Batang Lupar subdistrict, Kapuas Hulu Regency, the evidence of forest clearing was unmistakable. On May 21, 2026, a lone excavator sat idle in a recently cleared field, its back turned to tree stumps and fallen logs. Across the freshly disturbed soil, waist-high oil palm seedlings were planted in straight lines, marking the transformation of once-vibrant jungle into farmland.

Shift from Forest to Plantation

Just a year prior, the land near Jalan Nanga Badau Lanjak remained thickly wooded. This area lies roughly 10 kilometers from the northern edge of Danau Sentarum National Park. Local residents, including Paulus Bruindo, had noticed heavy machinery working behind the forest since the previous year. The 34-year-old frequently commuted between his home in Labian and Sungai Senunuk. “It wasn’t until this year that I saw the clearing extend to the road,” he explained.

“It wasn’t until this year that I saw the clearing extend to the road,” Paulus Bruindo said.

Monitoring Deforestation Patterns

Throughout 2025, the Global Forest Watch platform documented over 71,000 alerts for forest disturbances in Kapuas Hulu. These records highlighted significant deforestation activity, particularly in primary forests north of Danau Sentarum National Park. That region now hosts oil palm plantations, aligning with the observed pattern of land conversion.

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