Palm Oil Deforestation

Palm Oil is a natural commodity that is obtained from the deforestation of tropical rainforests. Palm Oil is found in many products ranging from Soap and detergent, to cooking oil and edibles such as chocolate; it can also be used as biodiesel for automobiles. Though the uses of Palm Oil ranges for over half of everyday consumer products; the use of the oil carries many detrimental and concerning issues in the Environmental aspect. The article pertaining to the topic of Palm Oil; reveals the negative effects of deforestation. The islands of Borneo and Sumatra are considered the focused areas for Palm Oil collection. The deforestation of these islands have brought Orangutans on the endangered list, but these species aren’t the only ones endangered. The Sumatran tiger, elephant and rhino are considered critically endangered; which makes the Palm Oil industry the “single most immediate threat to the greatest number of species.” Indigenous tribes are also facing the negative effects of deforestation. Many tribes are pressured or forced to give up lands for Palm Oil deforestation by governments and the Palm Oil industry. For example, the tribe
Tropical deforestation has accounted for about fifteen to twenty percent of global warming; which is more than the emissions from automobiles. In the country of Indonesia, more than sixty percent of carbon emissions comes deforestation of forests and peatlands; this alone, makes Indonesia the third worst country to produce greenhouse gas. Many forms of deforestation take place, but an illegal but popular method is the “slash and burn” method. Which burns forests and peatlands. In some cases, fires can continue burn for long periods of time, which emits an extreme amount of greenhouse gas. Peatlands are another area which causes great issue, due to the area holding tremendous amount of Carbon Dioxide that can be released if farmed for Palm