KOTABARU, South Kalimantan: Dozens of hectares of plantation on the Trans Kalimanta roads, from Liang Anggang, Tanah Laut district, to the district of Kotabaru, burned in the last one month, Antaranews reported.
Antaranews monitoring on Saturday, dozens of hectares of swamp land in Liang Anggang and surrounding area, which was previously green now looks charred and flattened due to burning.
Some point in the subdistrict of Jorong, Asam-Asam, and Kintap, Tanah Laut District, to Satui, Angsana, Kusan Hulu, Kusan Hilir, in Tanah Bumbu District also looks charred, after burning during the dry season of September to October, 2014.
Land owned by community burnt mostly were scrub, agricultural areas, rubber plantations, oil palm plantations, fruit orchards, including banana, coconut groves, and some crops.
“Unfortunately, rubber trees ready for tapping are now burned and dead,” said one resident, Udin.
Fires that occur at some point on the right and left of the Trans Kalimantan roads, some allegedly unintentional.
Head of Kotabaru Forestry Agency Rusin R Herlambang previously predicted there were hundreds of hectares of forest and land in the area burned during this season.
In special case of fire in production forests, a suspect identified as W (40) had been arrested together with the evidence, in the form of torches, wood and ash from forest fires. According to the suspect, the forest burned for agriculture.
Suspect charged with Article 83 letters A, article 12 of the letter D in conjunction with Article 85, paragraph 1 of article 12 in conjunction with the letter G Law No.18 of 2013 concerning Forestry and destruction with the threat of three years in prison and or a fine of Rp 250 million to Rp 3 billion.