The use of fire for land preparation is not a new phenomenon in tropical Indonesia. The fire events of 1997/1998 that caused the transboundary haze in the region are by far the most devastating. These were due to extensive land clearings by small holders and large agricultural industrial plantation estate owners. Estimates of the environmental damage and economic costs vary from US $ 4.5 to 10 billion. The burnt area was also estimated between 2 and 5 million ha of of forest and non-forest lands. International response required effective fire monitoring and policy reforms. The use of fire in land preparation activities, even in large plantation estates, is not essential. The practice has been shown to be financially and economically viable as well as environmentally sound by PT Riau Andalan Pulp And Paper - a member of the APRIL Group, Indonesia.
