NIHAR GOKHALE - 500,000 sick, $30bn loss: why Indonesian fires may be this century's greatest ecological disaster
For at least two months now, forest fires have been raging across Indonesia. Every year, between August and October, vast tracts of
forest land are cleared for palm oil, pulp and paper plantations. The planters
mainly use the "slash and burn" method - cut the vegetation and burn
it - since it's the fastest way to clear the land.
This year, the fires have turned into a catastrophe because
of the unusually dry weather brought on by the El Nino. In just the last six weeks, Indonesia has moved from sixth
to the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world. This is no small
feat.
For months, Indonesia and vast areas of Southeast Asia have
been enveloped by haze and smoke. The scale of loss is unimaginable. George
Monbiot calls it the "greatest environmental disaster of
the 21st century so far".
The harm to people's lives is incalculable. Schools have been shut and flights cancelled.
Indeed, gangster Chhota Rajan's extradition from Bali has been delayed in part because the flights have been
grounded. Here are some numbers to put the scale of the devastation in
perspective.
127,000
- The number of forest fires raging across Indonesia now.
- This is the second highest number of fires ever to be recorded, according to the Global Fire Emissions Database.
- The number has dropped recently due to rainfall in Kalimantan. By how much isn't clear yet.
