Hot spots detected in Jambi

JAMBI, Jambi: A total of 801 hot spots have been found in the province of Jambi in Central Sumatra over the past three months, head of the province's forestry office Gatot Moeryanto said on Saturday.

Some 244 hot spots were spotted in forest production areas and 87 others in plantations, he told a seminar here.

More than 400 hot spots, however, were discovered in land belonging to the people, he said.

Gatot said 224 of the total hot spots were found in Muro Jambi district, 159 in West Tanjungjabung district, 204 in East Tanjungjabung district, and the rest in Sarolangun district.

The slash and burn method of clearing land for plantations or other agricultural purposes has always been a major cause of forest fires. -- Antara