ID :
74616
Mon, 08/10/2009 - 20:00
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https://www.oananews.org//node/74616
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FIRES RAZE 10,000 HA OF FOREST, PLANTATION AREAS IN RIAU
Pekanbaru, Indonesia, Aug. 10 (ANTARA) - Fires have razed at least 10,000 hectares of forest and plantation areas in Riau Province since mid 2009, a local official said.
"The area of gutted plantations and forests has reached 10,000 hectares, and it may expand further," Fadrizal Labay, head of the Riau environmental affairs office, said here on Monday.
Fadrizal Labay said around 80 percent of the gutted area consisted of plantations, and the remaining 20 percent of forests.
Up to July 2009, around 2,800 hostpots of forest and plantation fires were detected in 12 districts/cities of Riau Province, according to data of the Riau environmental affairs office.
In Bengkalis and Rokan Hilir districts espectively, some 3,800 hectares of forest and plantation areas were gutted by fires this year.
"Fires have also occurred in plantation concession areas, and we are still investigating the causes of the fires," he said.
Three companies in Indragiri Hulu and Pelalawan had reportedly opened new plantation areas by setting fire to bushes, he said. The companies included Bertuah Aneka Yasa (BAY) in Indragiri Hulu, and PT Mekarsari Alam Lestari (MAL).
The companies were given sanctions for violating Law No. 23/1997 on environmental management.
Some 23 personnel of the Riau Fire Brigade assisted in putting out forest and plantation fires in Indragiri Hulu District.***
"The area of gutted plantations and forests has reached 10,000 hectares, and it may expand further," Fadrizal Labay, head of the Riau environmental affairs office, said here on Monday.
Fadrizal Labay said around 80 percent of the gutted area consisted of plantations, and the remaining 20 percent of forests.
Up to July 2009, around 2,800 hostpots of forest and plantation fires were detected in 12 districts/cities of Riau Province, according to data of the Riau environmental affairs office.
In Bengkalis and Rokan Hilir districts espectively, some 3,800 hectares of forest and plantation areas were gutted by fires this year.
"Fires have also occurred in plantation concession areas, and we are still investigating the causes of the fires," he said.
Three companies in Indragiri Hulu and Pelalawan had reportedly opened new plantation areas by setting fire to bushes, he said. The companies included Bertuah Aneka Yasa (BAY) in Indragiri Hulu, and PT Mekarsari Alam Lestari (MAL).
The companies were given sanctions for violating Law No. 23/1997 on environmental management.
Some 23 personnel of the Riau Fire Brigade assisted in putting out forest and plantation fires in Indragiri Hulu District.***
