The Forest Buddies      
Save The Forests, Save Our Lives
   
 
Haze- Effects
Destruction of a well-balanced habitat

 Endangered animals like the proboscis monkey and the Orang Utan live in the forests of Indonesia. Deforestation deprives them of their usual food and water sources.

The forest dwelling people are also badly affected by deforestation. Unfortunately, logging companies trespass on their ancestral land and cause their eviction.
Health

 Our health is also greatly affected by the haze. Asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory related illnesses are widespread in a hazy area. The haze also causes nose bleeds, skin and eye irritations.
Haze with a PSI of 100
(Photograph taken by the Forest Buddies Team)

In the beginning of March 2007, Thailand was affected by a severe haze as a result of dry weather and forest fires. The forest fires were partly due to the dry period and also a result of the slash and burn activity used by the farmers to clear land for agriculture.

Vegetation and Agriculture

 Thick haze prevents sunlight from reaching the green plants. As they fail to photosynthesize, the plants eventually die, causing many insects which rely on them to die to. As such, pollination cannot take place and new vegetation cannot grow.

Agriculture is also affected by the haze. Plants grow slower due to the lack of sunlight. The slow growth can drive up the price of vegetables.

Soil Erosion As a Result of Haze

Vegetation helps to bind the soil together, helping to prevent the soil from getting eroded easily. However, the demise of plants due to the effects of the haze allows the soil to be eroded easily.

Surface runoff is increased during periods with high rainfalls. This contributes to soil erosion. Soil, ash carried with the haze from forest fires and other debris flow into the river, polluting the water. Aquatic life and fishes may die.

Transport

 Even transport is affected. A severe condition of haze causes visibility to go down to 30 metres so flights may be cancelled or delayed. Furthermore, helicopter flights crucial to those living in remote inland areas and Sabah and Sarawak are also disallowed to carry on.

In 1997, ship collisions and a plane crash in North Sumatra that killed more than 200 people were reported.
Education

 In Malaysia, education comes to a standstill when the Air Pollutant Index reaches 300 as schools are ordered to be closed.

Economy

 The economy suffers greatly during the haze. Service sectors involving tourism and businesses suffer during severe haze. Losses are also incurred due to a decline of agricultural output and a fall in fisheries.

In 1997, the haze caused Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore almost US $9 billion. These losses included loss in timber, agriculture and socio-economic costs such as health, tourism, transportation and firefighting.
 
Sources:
Haze. (2007, November 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10:51, December 27, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haze&oldid=173913037
 
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