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Greenpeace says palm oil firms responsible for forest fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan

Xinhua, November 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greenpeace said Thursday that recent forest fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan had been brought about by palm oil firms operating there.

Greenpeace said that in Kalimantan's concession areas of palm oil plantations run by IOI Group, Bumitama Group and Alas Kusuma Group, the forest and peatland areas had been completely scorched and destroyed.

The international environmental campaign group said the three companies have been certified sustainable by prominent certification agencies of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Greenpeace Forest Campaigner Annisa Rahmawati said actions must be taken to stop deforestation in Indonesia, recover ecosystem in the burnt areas with vegetation other than palm oil and woods for pulps.

She said a quarter of Indonesian rainforest has been destroyed since 1990, most being used by palm oil and pulp plantations.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo pledged last month to ban further opening of peatland areas for plantation. Enditem