Less chance of Indonesian forest fire haze this year - officials

Indonesian leaders say there is less chance of haze from forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan affecting the region this year. Cutting and burning forest to open land for agriculture was considered the primary cause. A 2003 study from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) estimated that economic losses from haze affecting transportation in the region amounted to $1.62 to $2.7 billion in 1997-98, and losses from other smoke pollution were between $674 million and $799 million.