Indonesian haze getting better

Indonesian Environment minister says that the ‘haze’ that covers parts of Indonesia and SE Asia, will be completely gone in 2 years.

The ‘haze’ is caused by slash and burn tactics, used by farmers in Sumatra and Kalimantan, to clear land for farming. In 1998, the ‘haze’ was so thick, it caused $9 billion of loss to the SE Asian tourist industry, as well as health problems. I reckon Indonesia’s neighbors must be sick and tired of this annual event.

Environment minister Minister Rachmat Witeolar, said that steps are being taken to impound land belonging to people burning forest. “We are making very, very serious efforts. We will not be able to eradicate the fires completely this year and next year, but in two years they will be gone,” he said. The minister also feels that the wind is partly responsible, “The problems with our fires is that the wind blows from the south-east, thereby affecting neighbouring countries. There’s nothing we can do about the location of the earth,” he said.

Reading between the lines, you have to realize that farmers and people with money can pay off the cops, or make life hard for people getting in their way. Indonesia has the worst deforestation problem in the world. Large amounts of money can be made from illegal forestry and the land grab that follows. The momentum is for this to accelerate, not slow down.

Anyway, if the minister’s words help to soothe the feelings of Indonesia’s neighbors, then good.