In July 2018, Forest Management Unit (FMU) Kapuas Hulu Utara, Betung Kerihun National Park Administration (TNBKDS) together with FORCLIME program conducted an organisation and methods study along the Embaloh River in order to assess the effort of boundary demarcation along riversides. Therefore, three border signs were placed at two different locations on the border between FMU and National Park in a remote part of the district.

The working-time study found that for a 6-men work team, at least 40 minutes to one hour is required to transport material and to install one boundary demarcation sign. The main reasons for this are the challenging terrain conditions along the Embaloh River (steepness, vegetation, etc.), which also make transportation of material difficult. This must be taken into account in future similar activities.

The number of border signs that can be installed per day mainly depend on
• Access routes (distances, boat load).
• Distances between individual boundary points and accessibility by the river.
• Terrain conditions (inclination, vegetation, need for free cutting of sight lines, etc.).
• Weather (occupational safety, water level, etc.).

The existing canoes as well as the terrain conditions limit the maximum size of the border signs (1.5 x 1 m), which must be big enough for visibility from the river.

In the future, FMU Kapuas Hulu Utara and the National Park Administration plan to install further border signs at other rivers along the long border area and strengthen their cooperation in field activities.

For more information, please contact:
Moritz Zetzmann, Development Adviser for Forest Management Unit