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 would prevent annual fires and substantially cut the country's carbon emissions if properly implemented.

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

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.