Palm Oil May be popular, but Whole Rain Forests are Being Destroyed to Grow It

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Published 26th October 2010 - 0 comments - 770 views -

We may not realize it, but palm oil is one of the main causes of the wholesale destruction of rain forests in many parts of the world, especially in Indonesia. The Indonesian rain forests, or what's left of them, are home to some of the most threatened animal species on earth; including the Sumatran tiger (only a handful remain in the wild) (1); and Man's first cousin, the orangutan, whose name translated in English means literally "forest people". (2)

Rain forests in southern and southeastern Asia have been decimated in recent years by farmers who use "slash and burn" land clearing methods that resulted in huge fires in parts of Indonesia and helped increase the problem of global warming. (3)

But these methods for the clearing of tropical forests to provide land for growing palm trees and other crops is not only occurring in Indonesia and Malaysia, but also in African countries and those in South America as well. The current issues surrounding the destruction of rainforest for producing palm oil and other crops is part of a current awareness campaign being carried out by environmental awareness groups like the Eco Mena Community, which presented its "Seven reasons why not to buy or invest in palm oil" (4), and points out that palm oil is not only high in saturated fatty acids, like many types of household margarines, (5) but is used in producing foodstuffs which include some of the most popular brands of powdered milk, instant coffee, coffee cream, candy and other products (cosmetics etc.) in which palm oil is used in the production of these products and by doing so investing in the destruction of tropical rain forests and the livelihood of their native people who depend on these forests for their very existence.

In addition to the production of foodstuffs, palm oil is also being used to produce bio fuels, such as diesel fuel and as fuel to produce electricity in power plants. All of this is occurring at the expense of destruction of forestland and to the increase of global warming.

Why does this wholesale destruction of rainforests to produce palm oil have an effect on countries in the Middle East, many of which are mostly desert or near desert in their geographical makeup? Very simple: people in the Middle East are big purchasers of palm oil and products made from it. An economic study was conducted in 2005 dealing with the demand for palm oil in MENA countries (6), which found that the demand for palm oil was "significantly dependent on the income of the populations" and that more healthy substitutes such as soy bean oil being used in countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco and Turkey; and that the major substitute oil for palm oil in Saudi Arabia and Libya is now corn oil. While it is not possible to prevent the importation of lower priced palm oil and it's use in both foodstuffs and cosmetics (take a look at the ingredients of many types of liquid hand soaps and sunscreen lotions) we can at least try to avoid purchasing products which contain it and to demand that it be removed as an ingredient in these products.

The biofuel issue may be more difficult to deal with, however; and as a result much more environmentally friendly vegetable substances, such as algae (7), are being developed.

Despite efforts to the contrary, palm oil use is likely to continue as long as there is a demand for it; much to the sorrow of the world's decreasing rainforests and the unique ecosystems they support.

(1) http://www.honoluluzoo.org/tiger.htm ,

(2) http://www.orangutan.net/orangutans-home/orangutan-facts

(3) http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/SEA/Publications/files/journal/JA0132-04.pdf

(4) http://ecomena.com/invest-in-palm-oil/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MenaCommunity+%28MENA+COMMUNITY%29

(5) http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/08/margarineissues/

(6) http://psasir.upm.edu.my/6073/

(7) http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/06/michael-kagan-algaenesis/

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About the author

Maurice Picow
Israel
Freelance writer

Originally from Oklahoma City in the USA, I have been living in Israel since 1993 and began writing as a freelancer since 2001 for local web blogs as well as for the Jerusalem Post newspaper. Many of my articles deal with environmental and clean technology issues, including global warming and climate change, alternative and renewable energy, electric car technology, and issues dealing with health and fitness. Career experience in addition to writing include more than 20 years in the insurance field and in the field of international removals and relocation.

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