What was the aftermath of the 1997 wildfire in Indonesia?
What was the aftermath of the 1997 wildfire in Indonesia?
The land use changes that led to the fires were a combination of industrial-scale logging, draining peatlands for conversion to oil palm and fast-growing tree plantations, and a massive government program to drain swamps and convert them to rice paddies. A total of 240 people perished in the wildfires.
What caused the forest fire in Indonesia?
The haze is largely caused by illegal agricultural fires due to industrial-scale slash-and-burn practices in Indonesia, especially from the provinces of South Sumatra and Riau in Indonesia’s Sumatra island, and Kalimantan on Indonesian Borneo.
Under what circumstances would a controlled burn be a good idea?
Controlled burns are lit for a number of reasons. By ridding a forest of dead leaves, tree limbs, and other debris, a prescribed burn can help prevent a destructive wildfire. Controlled burns can also reduce insect populations and destroy invasive plants. In addition, fire can be rejuvenating.
Can a forest regrow after a fire?
Typically, species that regenerate by re-sprouting after they’ve burned have an extensive root system. Dormant buds are protected underground, and nutrients stored in the root system allow quick sprouting after the fire.
Is slash-and-burn legal in Indonesia?
Slash-and-burn is illegal in Indonesia but has been allowed to continue for years, with some saying corruption and weak governance have contributed to the situation.
How big was the forest fire in Borneo?
When fire starts on already degraded land, in today’s increasingly prevalent dry conditions due to global climate change (spurred by activities such as deforestation), and in land under poor management, a chain reaction begins. More and more rainforest burns. In 1997/1998, over 6 million hectares of forest in Borneo went up in flames.
Where was the 1997 forest fire in Indonesia?
1 Indonesia 2 Singapore 3 Malaysia 4 Thailand 5 Brunei 6 Vietnam 7 Philippines 8 Sri Lanka
Where are the fires in Kalimantan in Borneo?
MODIS detected dozens of fires (locations outlined in red) in the swampy, low-lying area north of the city of Banjarmasin, the capital of Central Kalimantan. Widespread burning in lowland forests on Borneo is an annual, manmade occurrence.
When did the peat fires start in Indonesia?
During the 1997-98 El Niño, out-of-control fires burned an more than a million hectares (2.5 million acres) of peat forests in Indonesia (including Borneo, Sumatra, and Indonesian New Guinea).