Thekabarnews.com—Severe air pollution from forest loss causes thousands of early deaths and major economic damage, a study finds. A recent study by experts from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, has added to concerns over the far-reaching impacts of deforestation. In particular, they note the effects of land-use change in Indonesia.

A new article in The Lancet Planetary Health says that the increase in fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, one of the most dangerous air pollutants, is caused by the growth of large-scale deforestation. Additionally, land conversion in Indonesia exacerbates this problem.

But now, environmental degradation is a tremendous threat to the public health of millions of people across the country. Additionally, it is a conservation concern.

It also associated poor air quality from deforestation with an annual toll of nearly 4,800 premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Indonesia.

It has the worst death toll of its kind in Southeast Asia. PM2.5 particles are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

This increases the risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, stroke and other serious health problems.

Prolonged exposure to higher levels of PM2.5 can significantly shorten life expectancy. Moreover, it can put a strain on the national healthcare system.

The research revealed that the health burden is not always near the sites of deforestation.

In fact, health is one of the most affected sectors in densely populated areas such as Java. Atmospheric circulation may transport air pollutants away from the source.

Java, Indonesia’s most populous island, faces the most severe problem. The situation is exacerbated by the large number of people exposed to filthy air.

The effects are not only on public health. The research puts the cost of air pollution in Indonesia at around Rp40 trillion a year in higher healthcare costs, lower productivity, and poorer output from workers.

This is almost a third of the total economic impact of air pollution from deforestation in Southeast Asia.

The results cast doubt on the assumption that the economic benefits of short-term forest conversion are worth the environmental costs.

Research indicates that the social and economic costs of deforestation and resource extraction over the long term far outweigh any short-term benefits.

The findings should be a wake-up call to lawmakers, corporations and local governments that control property.

Better forest protection, tougher land use restrictions, and better enforcement against illegal land clearing are critical to addressing future health and economic problems.

Recently, Indonesia has passed legislation on sustainable land management, conservation schemes, and forest monitoring activities to slow the rate of deforestation.

But researchers warned vigilance was still necessary as demand for agricultural land, mining, and infrastructure development grew.

The finding adds to a growing body of work linking public health and environmental degradation.

Today, more and more experts see forest protection as an ecological duty but also as a vital investment in human health, economic resilience and long-term national development.

The findings are a clear indication of the far-reaching implications of every hectare of forest lost beyond the immediate landscape. As a result, policymakers consider measures to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The future of the forests is no longer just an environmental issue for millions of Indonesians. This issue is a question of human survival and health.

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