Straight Talk on Indonesia’s Deforestation
Singapore Straits Times
The Indonesian government has stepped up its efforts to fight haze caused by deforestation, but is the private sector doing its part?
The government recently revoked or suspended the land-clearing licences of 27 companies linked to fires. President Joko Widodo announced a ban on new palm oil concessions and peat development, and the new peatland restoration agency (BGA) is putting an all-out effort into ensuring that the government’s strong conservation policy is more than just good intentions.
However, the private sector companies that are directly responsible for burning and clearing are not doing all they can to support an Indonesian government that is newly focused on reducing deforestation.
