Forest andpeatlandfires inIndonesiaemit largequantitiesof smoke leading topoor airquality across EquatorialAsia. Marlier et al (2015Environ. Res. Lett. 10085005) explore the contributionoffires occurringonoil palm, timber (woodpulpandpaper) and natural forest logging concessions to smoke emissions andexposure ofhumanpopulations to the resulting airpollution.Theyfindthatone thirdof the population exposure to smoke across Equatorial Asia is caused by fires inoil palm andtimber concessions inSumatra andKalimantan.Logging concessions have substantially lowerfireemissions, andcontribute less toairqualitydegradation.This represents a compelling justificationtoprevent reclassificationof logging concessions intooilpalmor timber concessions after logging.This canbe achieved by including loggedforests inthe Indonesianmoratoriumonnewplantations inforestedareas.
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