Palm oil. 1/ Indonesia's forest fires: everything you need to know | Guardian Sustainable Business. Where are the fires? As satellite data of the fire hotspots shows, forest fires have affected the length and breadth of Indonesia. Among the worst hit areas are southern Kalimantan (Borneo) and western Sumatra. The fires have been raging since July, with efforts to extinguish them hampered by seasonal dry conditions exacerbated by the El Nino effect. As well as Indonesia, the acrid haze from the fires is engulfing neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore and has reached as far as southern Thailand. What is the damage? The most obvious damage is to the forest where the fires are occurring.
The human cost is stark; 19 people have died and an estimated 500,000 cases of respiratory tract infections have been reported since the start of the fires. Financial damage to the region’s economy is still being counted, but the Indonesian government’s own estimates suggest it could be as high as $47bn, a huge blow to the country’s economy. What is causing the fires? Who is responsible? What needs to be done? Sustainable Palm oil production. From rainforest to your cupboard: the real story of palm oil - interactive | Guardian Sustainable Business. Palm oil production by country. Products containing Palm Oil. Small Actions = Big Changes. Hidden Consequences.