Forest Fires in Riau

Aerial photo taken from helicopter shows forest fires in the Mandau sub-district, Bengkalis district, Riau Province. Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) confirmed the existence of planned and structured fires in the moratorium area in Mandau, Riau for oil palm plantations.

Unique identifier: GP0STQYLL

Type: Image

Shoot date: 28/07/2017

Locations: Indonesia, Riau, Southeast Asia

Credit line: © Rony Muharrman / Greenpeace

Latitude: 1°10'36.3"N

Longitude: 101°1'11.2"E

Ranking: ★★★★★★ (B)

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Forest Fire in Riau

Two years after devastating fires plunged Indonesia into crisis, President Joko Widodo’s promises on forest and peat protection are being tested as forest fires break out across Indonesia.

Greenpeace analysis of the government’s own data and methodology show that fires hotspots have nearly doubled in less than three months, with 148 hotspots registered in May and 283 so far this July. A third of the fires occurring so far this month were in areas protected by the freshly renewed forest and peatland moratorium. A new version of the moratorium was presented on Monday with no significant improvement from its previous versions, and was followed by President Jokowi urging his ministers to put ministerial regulations at the service of business.”

Annisa Rahmawati, Senior Forest Campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia said:

“The lack of law enforcement could restart a humanitarian catastrophe and huge economic losses for the country, as we experienced during the tragic events of 2015 that cost lives and billions to the economy. Companies benefit from poorly enforced laws in order to keep clearing forests and draining peatland, which is the main cause of the fires that are again putting children in hospitals and forcing people to leave their homes”.

Concern is also growing in neighbouring countries since Aceh region in Sumatra, is among the worst hit area and is just 750 km from Kuala Lumpur.

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