JAKARTA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government is set to restore around 2 million hectares of peatland across the country by 2020 to address forest fire threat and preserve eco-system.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo made the announcement at the State Palace on Wednesday, noting that restoration would get underway in seven provinces in Sumatra Island, Borneo Island and Papua.
Those province have been frequently hit by forest fires in recent years.
"We have set a target to restore around 2 million hectares peatland territory in the seven provinces by 2020," Widodo said.
This year, the president expected to restore by up to 400,000 hectares of peatland in the provinces.
The government started restoration work last year following the biggest ever forest fires in the country.
Under the restoration program, the authority has applied a method to prevent forest fire from happening in the peatland, which is vulnerable to the threat.
Sumatra Island and Boneo have frequently witnessed forest fires, particularly in peatland areas, sending thick haze to neighboring countries, apart from triggering huge economic losses.