JAKARTA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has issued a presidential decree, to terminate issuance of new permits for opening palm oil plantations, a move which can help preserve forests and stave off potential of land clearing which had often triggered forest fires, a presidential official said here Friday.
The decree was clinched by President Joko Widodo on September 19, a special staff member of the presidential office for economy, Ahmad Erani Yustika, revealed.
All governors, mayors and district chiefs were ordered to re-evaluate the existing permits and delay the opening of new plantations, it said.
Indonesia logs about 12 million hectares of palm oil plantations, making it the world's largest producer. Palm oil is used for an array of products from cosmetics to snacks globally.
Indonesia has scrambled to battle forest fires in recent years, most of which were caused during land clearing as most growers were apt to burn bushes or forests in opening of new plantations.
