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| ©WWF |
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The fires in Indonesia are a local tragedy with global consequences. When millions of hectares of the world's second largest rain forest burn, the essential services they provide--clean water, food, medicine and oxygen--are also lost, to the people who live near them and to all of humanity.
There are many causes of the fires, including droughts and swidden agriculture. However, agricultural concerns which burn large tracts of forest to grow oil palm for the ever-expanding international market play a very significant role.
The need for fire fighting measures is immediate, but long-term solutions must be found that balance local and global needs and conserve this irreplaceable resource for future generations.
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