Drought Fires Razed 165,000 Hectares of Natural Forest
12/15/97
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Headline: Drought Fires Razed 165,000 Hectares of Natural Forest
Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 12/15/97
Copyright 1997 by Agence France-Presse
JAKARTA, Dec 15 (AFP) - Widespread fires during the dry season
this year razed a total of 165,000 hectares (407,550 acres) of
natural forest causing damage estimated at 132 billion rupiah (24
million dollars), a minister said Monday.
Forestry Minister Jamaludin Suryohadikusumo said the figures did
not include timber estates and plantations and he gave no details on
the calculation of the damage, the Antara news agency said.
The widespread forest and ground fires during the dry season
sent up huge clouds of smoke which covered most of Southeast Asia
with haze for months, prompting serious health and traffic problems
in the region.
While officials have said that only around 300,000 hectares
(741,000 acres) of forest and ground have burned this year, a rough
estimate of the country's leading environmental watchdog Walhi put
it at around 1.7 million hectares.