REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) Jambi, stated that Jambi forest and land fires were conducted by several companies. Director of Walhi Jambi, Musri Nauli, said there were two groups of large companies that carried out forest and land fires in Jambi, namely Sinar Mas and Barito Pacific.

"We indicate the forest and land fires were carried out by companies. There are two big group, Sinar Mas and Barito Pacific," said Musri, Monday (7/9).

He explained that burning peat area in Jambi was 9,149 hectares of industial timber estate. 740 hectares of them belonged to WKS and Diera Hutan Lestari.

Most of the burning area, 1,323 hectares, was made for large-scale oil palm plantations, managed by PT Kaswari Unggul  PT Agro Tumbuh Gemilang Abadi, PT Bumi Andalas, PT Puri Hijau Lestari, PT Era Sakti Wira Forestama, PT Bara Eka Prima and PT Bina Makmur Bestari.

According to Walhi, the forest and land fires caused losses of Rp 716 billion. The loss was calculated on the terms of air pollution, ecological damages, economic loss, and budget for damage recovery.

Until now, Musir said, there was still no law enforcement of forestry to take action against those companies. Local residents were always accused to become perpetrators of forest and land fires.

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