Research from the World Resources Institute shows 52% of the fires are in lands owned by logging, palm oil and pulpwood plantations, suggesting that some companies are still using illegal ‘slash and burn’ farming as a cheap method to clear the land.
“It is a problem that Indonesia has not managed to overcome because of lack of control over the action of palm oil companies. There is a governance issue, and it is an ecological risk in itself,” said Mochamad Indrawan, an advisor with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network.
Indonesia and neighbouring countries of Malaysia and Singapore faced a similar crisis in June last year.
- See more at: http://www.rtcc.org/2014/03/06/palm-oil-producers-blamed-as-smog-chokes-indonesia/#sthash.KyHtN1ON.dpuf