According to RealEyes, Swedish scientists raised the reduction of natural destruction, i.e. deforestation, as one of four requirements for sustainability, which happens to be one of Indonesia?s toughest environmental challenge. For two decades, Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands? primary forests, known as ?Lungs of the Earth?, has been losing its primary forest due to fierce fire for expansions of palm oil and land use change to farming.

As a result, last month National Aeronautics and Space Administration warned the worst-ever-recorded smog in Indonesia?s 70-year-old history. The financial loss could surpass its peak in 1997. On the other hand, Indonesians, Singaporeans, Malaysians, and Thais suffer more deleterious effect due to point-source air pollution, disturbing respiratory health and forcing people to relocate. The society experiences Pollutant Standard Index of 2,930 or almost 10 times its hazardous threshold, thus scientifically categorized as fatal. Moreover, other species such as orangutan has started to seek refuge in order to avoid further habitat losses, as 8,000 orangutans have lost their lives in the past, according to World Wildlife Fund.

End-of-the-pipe solution by clearing underground fire is challenging due to limited water and prolonged dry season which parched the carbon-rich peat topsoil and fueling the flames. Such peatland fires may contribute to worldwide emissions as much as 200 times greater than on other lands, as it emit methane as well. Due to this forest fire, average daily emissions of Indonesia exceeded those of all U.S. economic activity of 15.95 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Indonesia?s Environment and Forestry Ministry has enforced environmental laws to freeze 4 companies? plantation permits and arrested 7 company executives allegedly behind the forest fires.

This case is both a disruption to not only natural services and biodiversity but also natural resources. Thus, instead of living sustainably through natural income, Indonesia instead is degrading its own natural capital. This is also a more complex sustainability challenge as Indonesia, a less-developed country, is world?s biggest palm oil exporter.