Home / Environment / Indonesia Fires: Deforestation Fuels Land Blazes
Indonesia Fires: Deforestation Fuels Land Blazes
13 Nov
Summary
- Thousands of hectares burned on palm oil and pulpwood concessions.
- Fires exacerbated by deforestation and land clearing practices.
- Banks and investors urged to condition financing on fire prevention.
A recent study has revealed that thousands of hectares of land within Indonesian palm oil and pulpwood concessions experienced significant burning during the country's severe fire season. This highlights the critical role that deforestation and ongoing land clearing practices play in exacerbating these events.
The analysis, conducted by Rainforest Action Network and Nusantara Atlas, indicated that 2.88 million hectares of land were damaged by fires between January and October of 2026. This figure represents a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2019, a year also marked by strong El Niño conditions.
The study focused on specific instances of fires within large holdings, including those operated by companies under investigation in Singapore. Notably, over 14,600 hectares burned on a PT Bumi Mekar Hijau concession, a supplier to Asia Pulp & Paper. Additionally, at least 3,742 hectares were affected within a PT Kayung Agro Lestari concession managed by First Resources.
Researchers emphasized that the issue lies not with igniting fires, but with land preparation practices. They are calling on banks and investors to make financing conditional on credible fire prevention measures, urging financial institutions to reconsider supporting operations in fire-prone landscapes for profit.
