Reoccurrence of the fires that consumed 25 million acres of Indonesia's forest during 1997 and 1998 can only be avoided with significant changes to forest policy according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).

The report, "Trial by Fire: Forest Fires and Forestry Policy in Indonesia's Era of Crisis and Reform", recommends the Indonesian government put a moratorium on new concessions for oil palm, timber and other plantations until an inventory of forest land is completed; strengthen rules and penalties against clearing plantations with fire; declare a five-year moratorium on the resettlement programs by the government; give legal status to indigenous people and assist them in sustainable forest management; and monitor closely the trends and threat related to forest lands and resources.

The 1997 and 1998 forest fires caused damages amounting to $ 9.2 billion according to the Indonesian government. The fires in many instances were started by plantation owners who take advantage of the dry season to clear forests in order to plant exports crops such as oil palm according to WRI.

"The forest fires of the 1997 and 1998," said Charles V. Barber, on of the authors of the WRI report. "Were just the latest symptom of a destructive system of forest resource management carried out by the Suharto regime over 30 years. "

According to WRI, during Suharto, Indonesia's former president's, 32 year reign, Indonesia lost at least 90 million acres of forest, roughly equivalent to the size of Germany and the Netherlands combined.

"The key question is whether government forest policy will lead and smooth the way for these changes," said Jonathan Lash, president of WRI. "Or will be dragged along by popular action—which is likely to turn increasingly violent—at the grassroots."Comments about this story. Error: Unable to read footer file.