Indigenous activist and filmmaker Kynan Tegar discussed the fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, stating that approximately 48,000 hectares have burned this year due to intentional actions by agricultural corporations. Tegar attributes the current situation to land concessions granted since the 1970s to companies involved in logging, palm oil, and gold mining.
Corporations have drained over 1 million hectares of peatland. Tegar also noted the significant, yet less publicized, impact of decreased freshwater access for Indigenous and local communities. This water scarcity is exacerbated by climate change and El Niño, creating irony in a major rainforest region where people are struggling for water amidst widespread wildfires since July.
Source: Mongabay