Volunteers Battle Indonesia’s Peatland Wildfires Amidst Worsening Haze Crisis
In Borneo, volunteer firefighters are combating widespread peatland fires that threaten one of the world’s largest tropical peatland ecosystems. These fires, exacerbated by a “Super El Niño,” have resulted in a severe haze crisis affecting Southeast Asia. The volunteers face hazardous conditions and health risks as they work tirelessly to extinguish the blazes, with many relying on makeshift methods to combat the underground fires. The crisis is rooted in historical land-use changes, and the fires have released significant greenhouse gas emissions, worsening regional air quality.