Photo essay: Out of the ashes

In the last decade, locals in Pulau Hanaut subdistrict, Central Kalimantan, have gradually become entangled in wildfire protection through a set of government regulations, ranging from presidential instructions, to provincial, regency, and even sub-district regulations. The Ecosystem Restoration project through PT Rimba Makmur Utama is tasked with protecting the forest area surrounding Pulau Hanaut, and invites locals to take on these responsibilities, especially when confronted by wildfires. This project has disrupted fire practices for agricultural purposes. For locals in this region the options for alternative livelihoods are limited, as is the compensation offered to them by authorities.