Forest fires mostly in 'plantation areas'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry announced yesterday
\nthat the forest fires, which hit Sumatra and Kalimantan, mostly
\ntook place in plantation areas.<\/p>\n
Director General of Inventory and Forest Land Use Sumahadi
\nsaid the fires occurred during land clearing activities and
\nspread to other areas due to a lack of control.<\/p>\n
"The fires were mostly caused by human carelessness," he said
\nin a press briefing.<\/p>\n
He said that as of Sept. 28, 45.95 percent of hot spots were
\nlocated in plantation areas, 15.49 percent in productive forests,
\n24.27 percent in brush and peat areas, 8.51 percent in timber
\nestate areas, 4.58 percent in protected forests and 1.20 at
\ntransmigration sites.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said Monday
\nthat 97,700 hectares of forest had been destroyed, including
\n70,000 hectares of productive forest, 15,000 hectares of timber
\nestates and 26,000 hectares of protected and conservation
\nforests.<\/p>\n
He said the financial loss of timber estates amounted to Rp 45
\nbillion (US$11.8 million) given an average value of Rp 3 million
\nper hectare.<\/p>\n
Sumahadi said that the ministry had taken necessary steps to
\ncombat the fires, by setting aside Rp 2.8 billion for the Agency
\nfor the Assessment and Application of Technology, which was
\nattempting to seed clouds to extinguish the fires.<\/p>\n
He said the ministry was also using Rp 3.1 million of the
\nreforestation fund to handle the fires.<\/p>\n
He said the ministry, in cooperation with the Indonesia
\nForestry Society -- a group of major forestry and plantation
\nfirms -- and the Association of Indonesian Forest
\nConcessionaires, had also provided 500,000 masks for people in
\nthe affected areas.<\/p>\n
The ministry has also revoked 166 wood-use permits held by
\nvarious companies after they failed to present documents
\ndisproving allegations they started the brush and forest fires.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Minister Sjarifudin Baharsjah said yesterday the
\natrocious forest fires had burnt about 121,626 hectares of
\nplantations in many parts of the country.<\/p>\n
He said 32,919 hectares of the affected plantation had been
\nthe result of land clearing, while the remaining 88,707 hectares
\nof existing plantations were burned.<\/p>\n
Affected plantations included 45,043 hectares of 1 to 5 year-
\nold oil palm plantations, 3,926 hectares of hybrid coconut
\nplantations, 3,958 hectares of rubber plantation, 43,2 hectares
\nof cocoa and 35,736 hectares of other kinds of plantations, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Fires had also razed 730.5 hectares of agricultural
\nplantations including 209 hectares of paddy field, 1.5 hectares
\nof second crops planted during the dry season, and 520 hectares
\nof vegetables, fruits and flowers plantations, he said. (08\/das)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forest-fires-mostly-in-plantation-areas-1447893297",
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