SAMBOJA–The functional changes in Kutai, East Kalimantan to be Industrial Plantation Forest, coal minings, palm oil plantation and surroundings distrurb orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) habitat in Kalimantan.

According to Dr. Yaya Rayadin, an expert of Orangutan from University of Mulawarman, to maintain and relate men’s activities and habitats of orangutan, it needs to make the corridor.

“There are lots of vegetated areas in the palm oil and mining areas. These could be the trap for the animals if there are no corridors connecting all areas,” he said as written in the official site of Forest Research and Development, recently.

Relating to the crucial problem, in 2011, Conservation and Research Board of Natural Resource has been researching the corridor development for orangutan. The researchers are Dr. Wawan Gunawan, drh. Amir Ma’ruf, M.Hum, Mukhlisi, M.Si dan Tri Sayektiningsih, S.Hut.

Now the temporary study has made some criteria to determine the proper development of corridor in one spot and the design criteria to develop. Areal management researcher, Wawan Gunawan said, the criteria is the summary of some interviews with experts of orangutan, forestry, ecologists, landscape, bureaucrats in the Ministry of Forestry.

“The corridor development criteria of orangutan still needs some studies in the field to complete the available criteria because it will be easier to implement in the field.

The information said, the corridor development will be done in the coal mining reclamation area belonging to PT. KPC Sangatta. This area is part of Kutai and it is not far from National Park of Kutai.(T3)