Coughing babies, DIY-firefighting farmers: Anger rising among locals in South Sumatra as province battles forest fires

Thus, he is confident the fires will not cause transboundary haze this year.

“We have set up a (mobile) application to monitor hotspots … we have also deployed teams to hotspot regions, especially peatland areas,” said Mr Prawira.

He asserted that the culprits are usually farmers or people assigned by corporations to set fire for land clearing. 

They are currently handling 19 cases and have arrested 34 suspects since August, Mr Prawira added. 

The environment and forestry ministry has also sealed off at least six lands owned by corporations in South Sumatra to investigate forest and land fires, the ministry said on Sep 26.

Indonesia is the world’s third largest rainforest area, but it is also one of the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters due to forest fires, peatland degradation and deforestation. 

Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has set a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.

Mr Arie Rompas, forest campaign team leader with Greenpeace Indonesia, said the release of carbon dioxide triggers climate change.

Therefore, Indonesia seriously needs to tackle land and forest fires. 

“Taking legal action is crucial, especially as a deterrent effect. 

“Because based on Greenpeace’s data, incidents continue to happen in the same locations,” he told CNA.

Back in Tanjung Serang village, Mdm Sadriah hopes she will never experience land or forest fires again. 

“Hopefully, there will be no fires in the upcoming years, and people will be more careful. 

“Because fires cannot start on their own. It must have been the result of humans.”