'Zombie fires' ravage Indonesia's peatlands, spreading toxic haze across region
JAKARTA: For weeks on end, parts of Indonesian Borneo have resembled an Armageddon landscape with masked residents immersed in a putrid, red-brown haze as wildfires devour peatlands near homes and farms.
Indonesia's peatlands have been engulfed in "zombie fires" this year, releasing a toxic haze that has spread to neighboring countries. These fires, which smolder slowly under the surface, have been exacerbated by deforestation for industrial plantations, rice paddies, and palm oil production. Healthy peatlands, which cover only three percent of the planet's land but store a third of its soil carbon, are crucial for flood control and home to unique biodiversity.
However, drained and degraded peatlands are highly flammable, especially during El Nino years. The fires, often invisible but emitting a noxious smoke, have caused respiratory illnesses in millions and emitted over 140 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than 13 percent of the global total. Activists and experts call for the revocation of concession licenses for peatland exploitation, rewetting and replanting native species, and blocking canals to prevent fires.
However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of these measures and the government's commitment to conservation.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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