JAKARTA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has temporarily closed hiking trails in nine national parks deemed at high risk of forest and land fires, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said Monday.
"The policy aims to protect hikers while allowing the government to concentrate firefighting resources in priority provinces," Raja said.
The closures cover Bromo Tengger Semeru, Kerinci Seblat, Mount Ciremai, Tambora, Manusela, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya, Mount Gede Pangrango and Mount Leuser national parks, as well as several routes in Lorentz National Park.
The measure is also intended to prevent hikers from becoming trapped in fire-affected areas, after around 170 hikers were previously stranded in the Bromo Tengger Semeru area.
Meanwhile, hiking remains open on a limited basis at Mount Rinjani, Mount Merbabu, Argopuro in the Dataran Tinggi Hyang Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Halimun Salak, with strict supervision and access restricted to areas considered safe. ■