The Power of Mama: Women Guardians of Kalimantan's Forests

In Indonesia's Kalimantan, a group of over 140 women, known as 'The Power of Mama,' are actively engaged in forest protection efforts alongside their local communities. Balancing their roles as farmers and housewives, these women utilize motorcycles to patrol the vast forests, meticulously record fire hotspots, and assist in firefighting operations when fires occur. One such individual is Jurnaini from Sungai Putri Village in West Kalimantan, who expresses deep sorrow over the destruction of her homeland's forests due to recurrent fires during the dry season. For residents like her, forest fires are not merely natural disasters but a grave threat to their very livelihoods. The initiative began in 2022 when a non-governmental organization (NGO) gathered women from four villages around Ketapang and provided firefighting training to some participants. These trained women formed the core of 'The Power of Mama,' which, with the support of the local community, has evolved into the grassroots forest protection movement it is today. Their activities represent a symbolic endeavor in sustainable development and community empowerment in Indonesia, where residents themselves take the initiative to protect their environment, often in areas lacking adequate political or economic support. Source: CNN Indonesia