TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Forest fires and haze disaster are one of the main agenda that was discussed in the meeting held by the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) and environment ministries from several Asean members.

The meeting, titled Technical Working Group Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution, was attended by five environment ministers from Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Forest fires and haze pollution are predicted to keep occurring this year even though they will be less intense than the previous years.

KLHK recorded that throughout 2015, the number of hotspots in Riau reached 1,166, decreased by 69 percent compared to last year.

The number of hotpots in West Kalimantan from January to July also dropped 71 percent to 539 from last year.

The total number of hotspots across Indonesia are 4,763 spot, according to KLHK’s official statement.

KLHK continued that the decreasing number of hotspots is the result of cooperation between various agencies, which are the central government, the local government, TNI and police, universities, private parties and the society.

In Asean, the governments of each country have made some efforts to prevent forest fires that cause air pollution.

Some of the steps taken are strengthening the capacity of firefighters, conducting fire control and peat moss management and rehabilitation.

The five countries involved in the meeting plan to establish the Asean Coordinating Centre on Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THP).

BISNIS.COM