IPS: With a propensity to devour everything in their path and spiral quickly out of control, leaving behind swathes of scorched earth, forest fires are considered a hazard in most parts of the world. In Indonesia, however, fires are the preferred method for clearing large areas of land for massive plantations of commercial crops.
In the first half of 2013, research studies have already recorded 8,343 forest fires, a higher number than has been recorded in preceding years.
While some blazes occurred...