The haze over Singapore is caused by forest fires in Indonesia.
A thick haze has blanketed Singapore for days, prompting the National Environment Agency to issue a pollution advisory. The haze is caused by forest fires in Indonesia, which has seen its driest year since the 1960s. Although the air quality index has dipped into the unhealthy range, it is still within safe levels.
What causes the haze?
Forest fires, or smoke from slash and burn practices, can cause a lot of damage to local environments and economies, as well as human health.
What causes forest fires?
Human activities, such as slash and burn practices or accidental wildfires can spark off forest fires.
History of Forest Fires in Indonesia
Before 1965 there were no major issues with forest fires due to limited human activities in Indonesia.
In 1965 there was an increase of deforestation . This was due to rapid development and agricultural expansion.
In 1982 there was another increase of deforestation due to poor government policy.
In 1997 there was an increased rate of deforestation . This was due to slash and burn techniques used by farmers.
In 2015 there were large numbers of forest fires across Indonesia.
In 2016 the smoke from these forest fires created a “Haze crisis”.
