The developer of a massive dam project in Borneo is illegally burning thousands of acres of felled rainforest, contributing to a smoky haze blanketing parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, according to a conservation group. The Sarawak Conservation Action Network reports that the developers of the controversial Bakun Hydroelectric Power Dam project are in the process of felling 200,000 acres of rainforest, a significant portion of which is being set afire. The fires, carried out by the developer’s contractors and sub-contractors, are in direct violation of Malaysia’s laws against open burning, according to Mongabay.com. Local and international conservation groups have unsuccessfully sought to block the Bakun Dam for more than a decade, arguing that the project — which will have a reservoir the size of Singapore — will displace forest communities and destroy biologically rich rainforest. The dam will be used to generate electricity for mining projects and for Singapore and Malaysia. Extensive bush and forest fires in Indonesia and Malaysia have created a dense haze covering large portions of Southeast Asia.
bakundam.com