Jakarta, Nov. 1 -- Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni inspected a 3.2-kilometer fire barrier in Paring Lahung Village, North Barito District, Central Kalimantan, built to slow forest and land fires and protect Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) habitat.

Antoni toured the barrier on Saturday with environmental activist and Kalaweit Foundation founder Chanee Kalaweit, according to a statement received on Sunday.

Construction began on Sept. 11 to slow the spread of fire and give field teams room to work.

At the site, the barrier divides burned land from green areas. One side showed fire scars, while vegetation on the other looked intact.

Besides limiting the fire's spread, the barrier is considered to have helped protect oran...