“Oil palms are like giant Carbon Dioxide Volcanoes” – Willie Smits

How is the situation in Kalimantan?
WS: (Willie Smits) It is extremely bad. Forest fires are not only unacceptable but they are causing respiratory problems to those living in Kalimantan. There has not been much rain, transportation has been hindered because of bad roads and the economy is not improving.

Scientists claim that, in 10 years, the orangutans could be wiped out from the face of the Earth. What is your opinion on this?
WS: I believe so! Although there are so many conservation groups and activists efforts of protecting and rescuing them, there is so much more to be done. Almost 20% of the natural forest are made into hectares of palm oil plantation. It is worrying!

With 30 years in the field of forestry and nature conservation, tell us what would be the best solution?
WS: Indonesia is the third largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world. Technology can help us to track illegal logging, forest fires and more. There must be a cohesive work between the government and law enforcement because now, everything is all about cash flow and greed.
Indonesia is such a beautiful country and, across this country, there are at least 28 million hectares of “good land” that can be worked upon to grow whatever potential alternative fuel crops but now host illegal timbre sales. Kalimantan is now the target of all these business and this should stop.

What are the challenges you face?
WS: I received countless death threats and I’ve had close encounters with death but thank god I survived. You have to understand the situation with the local communities’ needs: the hardest part is to work hand in hand with them, the government, law enforcement and more. The sight of dying orangutans breaks my heart, the air pollution is terrible… striving for a win-win situation for all sectors is very challenging. You cannot save the environment if we do not simultaneously take care of the people’s needs.

What is your most memorable experience?
WS: I wouldn’t be continuing in this field if it wasn’t for an orangutan name Uceh. Three years after releasing her back into the wild, I heard she had a baby. I went to the forest to see her and she was scared initially but she came down from a tree with her baby and hugged me tightly and put the baby close to my face. As we walked back, she bit off a leave and gave it to me as a way of saying thanks and that she is safe again. It was really a memorable moment for me.