Palm Oil Plantations Wrecking Asian Rainforests

Palm oil, listed as, “vegetable oil,” in many supermarket food products is responsible for cultures, ecosystems, and animals, like the orangutan, tiger, and sun bears being pushed to extinction, and the problem is getting worse.

In the rush to profit from this cheap food and biodiesel-producing plant, palm oil plantations are replacing the biodiversity of co2-sopping rain forests at an alarming rate. The logging and replanting of the rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia displace indigenous plants, people, and animals; contributes to greenhouse gases because of burning; causes water pollution because of erosion; and fosters political and corporate corruption as people place profit above sustenance.

Addressing the complex problems of rain forest deforestation is a challenge. On one hand, a governmental push toward ‘modernization,’ views preservation of the rainforests as a luxury that palm-oil producing countries cannot afford. On the other hand, the rest of the world is all too happy to consume palm oil as well as rainforest wood products, so fails to recognize and actively address the destruction.

Worldwide political solutions to address rainforest destruction would be highly beneficial, but governments are cumbersome and unlikely to act in a timely manner. Individuals CAN take meaningful steps to curb the devastation.

Tony Mandarich at Ezine Articles suggests that a four pronged approach of education, worldwide conservation policies, restoration efforts, and the economics of ecotourism might be an effective strategy.

Join the efforts of organizations like United Planet, Save The Rainforest, Inc.,  World Wildlife Fund, Rainforest Foundation, to preserve and restore rainforests in Asia and elsewhere on the planet.

References: Rainforests.net|Rainforest Information Centre|The Independent