Systemic peatland fire governance gaps perpetuate transboundary haze, exposing need for indigenous fire‑management and regional legal frameworks
Original framing: “Indonesia haze chokes neighbors, but little legal recourse” — Phys.org
Indigenous Dayak communities have long employed controlled, low‑intensity burns to maintain peatland moisture and prevent catastrophic fires, a practice known as "tumbang ruhui". These techniques are grounded in intimate knowledge of peat hydrology and seasonal cycles, which modern drainage schemes have disrupted. Revitalising and scaling such traditional fire‑management could reduce ignition sources while respecting cultural sovereignty.
The haze crisis is a symptom of entrenched peatland drainage, weak governance, and the marginalisation of indigenous fire‑knowledge, amplified by recurring El Niño‑driven droughts.
Historical patterns show that legal frameworks exist but remain unenforced, allowing corporate and state actors to externalise health and climate costs onto marginalised communities. Integrating Dayak customary practices, transparent scientific monitoring, enforceable regional law, and community‑led health surveillance creates a feedback loop that addresses both immediate symptoms and structural drivers. Only by recentering indigenous stewardship and holding power to account can transboundary haze be transformed from a periodic disaster into a manageable, preventable condition.