3 hrs ago

Indonesia Wildfires Threaten Ancient Peatlands and Release Carbon

Fires are burning forests and peatlands in Indonesia.

Peat is soil made from very old plants that have stored carbon for thousands of years.

When peat burns, that carbon can quickly become gases that warm the planet.

The fires are happening in Borneo, where some peat deposits are more than 20 metres deep.

Smoke has spread to several nearby countries.

The air pollution has become much worse than health guidelines recommend.

Many people in Indonesia have developed respiratory infections, including thousands of children.

Firefighters are digging ponds and canals to help put out fires that are burning underground.

Key facts

Affected forest area: About 4.5 million hectares of forest are being threatened by the fires.
Carbon depth: Peat deposits in parts of Kalimantan exceed 20 metres in depth.
Carbon estimate: Some deposits could contain more than 6,000 tonnes of carbon.
Land already affected: Nearly 200,000 hectares of forest and farmland have released large amounts of carbon.
Pollution level: Air pollution reached 75 times World Health Organization recommendations.
Respiratory infections: Indonesia recorded 50,000 cases between July and August, including 12,000 children.
Firefighting response: Volunteer firefighters are digging ponds and canals to create improvised irrigation systems for subterranean fires.

wionews.com · 3 hrs ago