Articles

Expansion of Oil Palm Expansion Poses Threat to the Environment and Traditions

For the people of Pedamaran, OKI Regency, peatlands are the heart of life. They are economically and socially dependant on peatlands. But the opening of investment taps through the expansion of oil palm plantations threatens not only their income sources, but also peat swamp areas covering over 150 thousand hectares of land in this district.

Riau’s Annual Fire and Smoke Calamity

Riau has announced state of emergency since February 19, 2019 while all schools in Pekanbaru have been closed since September 11, 2019, due to worsening air pollution that have reached unhealthy levels. While the Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency noted, for the period from January 1 to October 6, 2019, the total area of ​​land burned in Riau had reached 9,120.5 hectares.