Earth Tree Images

Palm Oil, Indonesia

A palm oil depot on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest. Aceh Province, Sumatra. Photo: Paul Hilton The two largest oil palm-producing countries are Indonesia and Malaysia and are located in Southeast Asia, a region with numerous endemic, forest-dwelling species. Oil palm producers have asserted that forests are not being cleared to grow oil palm. Our analysis of land-cover data compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that during the period 1990–2005, 55%–59% of oil palm expansion in Malaysia, and at least 56% of that in Indonesia occurred at the expense of forests. Over Borneo and Sumatra as a whole, illegal logging has led to huge declines in orangutans and other wildlife. Where forests are converted to plantations of oil palm or other crops, the consequences are even more serious, with many orangutans starving.

The Sumatran orangutan is classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Since 1900, the number of Sumatran orangutans is thought to have fallen by about 91%, with a rapidly accelerating loss towards the end of the 20th century. Photo: Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images

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Filename: IMG_0951.jpg
Copyright: Paul Hilton for Earth Tree Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images
Image Size: 4811x3186 / 16.5MB; forest palm oil plantation leuser leuser ecosystem Leuser Ecosystem palm oil oil palm palm palm oil oil commodity food products Leuser ecosystem Indonesia oil palm
Contained in galleries: Palm Oil

A palm oil depot on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest. Aceh Province, Sumatra. Photo: Paul Hilton The two largest oil palm-producing countries are Indonesia and Malaysia and are located in Southeast Asia, a region with numerous endemic, forest-dwelling species. Oil palm producers have asserted that forests are not being cleared to grow oil palm. Our analysis of land-cover data compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that during the period 1990–2005, 55%–59% of oil palm expansion in Malaysia, and at least 56% of that in Indonesia occurred at the expense of forests. Over Borneo and Sumatra as a whole, illegal logging has led to huge declines in orangutans and other wildlife. Where forests are converted to plantations of oil palm or other crops, the consequences are even more serious, with many orangutans starving.<br />
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The Sumatran orangutan is classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Since 1900, the number of Sumatran orangutans is thought to have fallen by about 91%, with a rapidly accelerating loss towards the end of the 20th century. Photo: Paul Hilton / Earth Tree Images