Indonesia takes new step to combat loss of forests, fires

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia has strengthened its moratorium on converting peat swamps to plantations in a move a conservation research group says will help prevent annual fires and substantially cut the country's carbon emissions if properly implemented.

Draining of peat swamps by palm oil and pulp wood companies is a big contributor to destruction of tropical forests in Indonesia and the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

Indonesia has made major commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect its tropical forests, which are home to critically endangered species, but deforestation has continued largely unabated.

Last month, the company was criticized by Indonesia's Peatland Restoration Agency which released photos showing one of its suppliers in South Sumatra was replanting peatlands which burned in last year's dry season fires and were supposed to be restored.