As Featured in The Telegraph
The Power of Mama (TPOM), an all-female forest protection team established by our frontline partner YIARI, was recently featured in a full-length article in The Telegraph.
The feature highlights the inspiring work of the ‘mamas’ as they help protect Borneo’s forests from devastating wildfires and safeguard vital peatlands, local communities and endangered wildlife, including orangutans.
Made up of 123 women from eight villages in West Kalimantan, TPOM members range in age from 23 to 62. Travelling through the forest by motorbike, they patrol for signs of fire, spotting and reporting threats before they can spread. Some of the women are now also training as firefighters to respond quickly when fires do break out.
These remarkable women are showing extraordinary strength and determination, standing on the frontline to protect orangutan habitat, their communities and the future for generations to come.
Preparing for an increasingly dangerous fire season
Their work has never been more important.
With El Niño conditions already fuelling fires across forests and peatlands, and the possibility of a Super El Niño still ahead, orangutans, other endangered wildlife and local communities face growing threats.
We have seen before how devastating these fire seasons can be. They destroy precious habitat, displace and injure wildlife, release vast amounts of carbon from peatlands and put people’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Preparing before fires take hold is one of the most effective ways to reduce that impact.
Earlier this year in May, TPOM took part in specialised forest and land fire management training organised by YIARI. Delivered by the Manggala Agni Kalimantan X/Ketapang Operational Team, the training equipped the women with practical skills to help prevent, detect and respond to fires quickly and safely, reducing the risk of small fires becoming catastrophic.
Together, the mamas are not only protecting one of the world’s most important ecosystems, but they are also redefining what’s possible for women in their villages and inspiring the next generation through their leadership.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this work. Your generosity is helping make this vital training possible and ensuring that The Power of Mama is better prepared for whatever the coming months may bring.
Read the full Telegraph feature: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/the-squad-of-motorbike-riding-women-fighting-wildfires/