In a haze over forest fires<\/p>\n
Once again, a pall of haze is hanging over much of Malaysia
\nand drifting across Southeast Asia, caused by forest fires in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
It is small comfort that the latest satellite shots show a
\nreduction in the number of hot spots in Sumatra, especially when
\nthe weather is expected to remain dry for the next few days. It
\nis also small comfort that this is not as serious as in 1997-
\n1998. The haze has become an unwelcome annual event which should
\nnot be happening at all, considering the time, effort and
\nresources put in by the affected countries over the past seven
\nyears to prevent its recurrence.<\/p>\n
Since a Regional Haze Action Plan was drawn up in 1997, ASEAN
\nministers and officials have met frequently to devise measures
\nand establish mechanisms to deal with the problem at ministerial
\nmeetings, technical task forces, working groups on sub-regional
\nfire-fighting arrangements, legal groups on law and enforcement,
\nand regional climate reviews. Moreover, with the coming into
\nforce on Nov. 25 last year of the ASEAN Agreement on
\nTransboundary Haze Pollution, there is now a comprehensive
\nblueprint for tackling the hazard.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, these have obviously been ineffective.
\nAlthough the problem transcends national frontiers, local rather
\nthan regional solutions hold the key to eradicating the root
\ncauses of forest fires. As Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
\npointed out at the World Conference on Land and Haze Forest Fire
\nHazard in 2002: \"From past experience, if early action can be
\ntaken at the national level in respect of surveillance,
\nmonitoring, enforcement, preventive and mitigating measures, the
\nimpact of transboundary haze pollution can be much reduced or
\neven avoided\".<\/p>\n
As the major source of forest fires, it is clear that
\nIndonesia should play a leading role in implementing the ASEAN
\nagreement. To demonstrate its goodwill and commitment to work
\nwith its neighbors in combating haze, Indonesia should ratify the
\naccord. More crucially, it should follow up with effective action
\nagainst the plantation owners, timber companies and
\nagriculturalists who burn trees to clear the land.<\/p>\n
-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/in-a-haze-over-forest-fires-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }