A Recurring Environmental Emergency
Every dry season, parts of Indonesia — particularly Sumatra, Kalimantan, and parts of Sulawesi — experience devastating peatland fires. The resulting haze doesn't just affect local communities; it blankets entire regions including Singapore, Malaysia, and southern Thailand in thick, choking smog. Understanding why these fires are so destructive, and why they're so hard to stop, is essential for any conversation about air quality in Southeast Asia.
What Are Peatlands?
Peatlands are wetland ecosystems where organic material — primarily partially decomposed plant matter — has accumulated over thousands of years. Indonesia holds some of the world's largest tropical peatland reserves, storing enormous amounts of carbon. When intact and waterlogged, peatlands are actually valuable carbon sinks that help regulate the global climate.
The problem begins when peatlands are drained for agriculture, particularly for palm oil and pulp-paper plantations. Once dried out, peat becomes highly flammable — and almost impossible to extinguish.
Why Peat Fires Are Different From Normal Forest Fires
Peat fires are uniquely destructive for several reasons:
- They burn underground: Peat fires can smolder meters below the surface, making them nearly impossible to detect or extinguish with water alone.
- They produce enormous smoke volumes: Peat combustion releases significantly more smoke per hectare than surface forest fires.
- They last for months: A single ignition point can burn for weeks or months, even during rainfall.
- They release massive CO₂: Deep peat stores centuries of carbon, which is rapidly released as CO₂ and methane during a fire.
- Toxic composition: Peat smoke contains high concentrations of PM2.5, carbon monoxide, and carcinogenic compounds.
The Human Cost of Haze
During severe haze years, AQI levels in affected Indonesian cities have exceeded 900 on some monitoring stations — well into the hazardous zone. The health impacts are severe and wide-reaching:
- Surge in acute respiratory infections, especially among children
- Increased hospital admissions for asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia
- Long-term lung damage in communities exposed for extended periods
- Economic losses from school closures, canceled flights, and reduced agricultural productivity
The Root Causes: Land Clearing Practices
While natural ignitions from lightning do occur, the majority of peatland fires in Indonesia are traced to human activity — specifically the practice of land burning (pembakaran lahan) used to clear land cheaply before planting. Despite regulations and periodic bans, enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly in remote areas.
The economic pressure to expand plantations continues to drive the cycle of drainage, drying, burning, and haze.
What Is Being Done?
Indonesia has made several policy moves to address the problem:
- Peatland Restoration Agency (BRGM): Established to rewet and restore degraded peatlands across millions of hectares.
- Fire-free village programs: Community-based initiatives that reward villages for avoiding fire-based land clearing.
- Moratorium on new peatland concessions: Restrictions on opening new peatland areas for industrial agriculture.
- Early warning systems: Satellite-based hotspot monitoring through LAPAN and Global Forest Watch to enable faster response.
What You Can Do During Haze Season
If you live in a haze-affected region, protect yourself during fire season:
- Monitor AQI apps daily from late July through October (peak haze season).
- Keep N95 masks stocked at home before the season starts.
- Use air purifiers with HEPA filters indoors.
- Keep doors and windows sealed; use wet towels at door gaps if needed.
- Prepare an evacuation plan if AQI becomes hazardous for extended periods.
Peatland fires are a complex environmental, economic, and governance challenge. But awareness and preparation at the individual level remain the most immediate tools available to protect health during haze crises.