Palm oil to blame for 39% of forest loss in Borneo since 2000 : study. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39% of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.
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What percentage of Borneo is palm oil?
New animated map of Borneo reveals expansion of industrial oil palm and pulpwood plantations (black: 88% oil palm and 12% pulpwood) and forest loss (green to another color) every year since year 2000 until 2017.
How much of Borneo has been deforested?
On the island of Borneo, between 1973 and 2015, 50% of the forest was lost, much of this to oil palm and other industries. We explore the impacts of these four decades of forest loss on the functionally connected habitat of 245 forest birds and mammals.
What are the impacts of deforestation caused by palm oil in Borneo?
Drainage systems required for plantations (oil palm plantations in Borneo are often established in swamp forest) may lower water tables, affecting neighboring forest areas. Further, destruction of peat lands increases the risk of flooding and fire.
How much land is cleared every year for palm oil plantations?
Q. How much land/forest is cleared every year for oil palm plantations? A. It has been suggested that up to 300 football fields of forest are cleared every hour.
Is Borneo being deforested?
As in many tropical areas around the world, Borneo’s rainforests are being cut and degraded for timber, palm oil, pulp, rubber and minerals. The increase in these activities is being matched by a growth in illegal wildlife trade, as cleared forests provide easy access to more remote areas.
What caused Borneo deforestation?
The leading reason for deforestation in Borneo is largely subsistence and agro-industrial agriculture. Subsistence agriculture mostly involves slash-and-burn practices from local communities. It requires low technology and is usually done on a rotation (or shifting) basis.
Is palm oil good for Borneo?
Palm oil was responsible for 35% of forest loss in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and 46% on the Malaysian side. Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 85% of the world’s palm oil, which is used in everything from soaps, lipstick to pizza and biodiesel.
How bad is deforestation in Borneo?
Deforestation of the rainforests in Indonesia, including Borneo, destroys unique ecosystems. According to studies from 2014 based on satellite photos, an estimate of more than 30% of the original Bornean rainforests have been cleared within just four decades (1970-2010).
What is palm oil deforestation?
Deforestation is when forests and trees are cut down to clear the land to use it for something else. Palm oil production is said to have been responsible for about 8% of the world’s deforestation between 1990 and 2008.
How much deforestation does palm oil cause?
The conversion of land to oil palm plantations alone is responsible for 40% of the loss of natural forest cover around the world. But exploring the source of this data shows that palm oil is actually responsible for only 2.3% of the world’s deforestation.
How much does palm oil contribute to deforestation?
One study suggests that palm oil is responsible for around 2% of global tree loss. Another suggests it is responsible for only 0.2% of intact forest loss.
Who is responsible for deforestation in Borneo?
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39% of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.
Which country is the largest producer of palm oil?
Indonesia
Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil, followed by Malaysia – both countries account for 84% of the worlds palm production.
Which country is the largest producer of palm oil in the world?
Indonesia
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, nearly 85% of palm oil is produced in just two countries – Indonesia and Malaysia. In 2019, Indonesia produced 42.5 million tons, 58% of global production, while 19 million tons came from Malaysia – 26% of the global supply.
Which countries consume the most palm oil?
Domestic Consumption of Palm Oil
| # | 68 Countries | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 Indonesia | +4.0 % |
| 2 | #2 India | +2.4 % |
| 3 | #3 China | -1.6 % |
| 4 | #4 Malaysia | +3.5 % |
How much is Borneo protected?
To combat this threat, the government of Sabah has pledged to increase the extent of protected areas from a current 23 percent of land area to 30 percent, safeguarding nearly one million acres of rainforest over the next four years.
What is being done to prevent deforestation in Borneo?
By replanting areas with native rainforest trees and protecting them from wildfires, we restore critical habitats and reconnect populations of orangutans and other native species.
How much of Indonesia has been deforested?
The country lost 115,459 hectares (285,300 acres) of forest cover in 2020, an area the size of Los Angeles. That’s a 75% drop from 2019, according to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Is Borneo forest protected?
The governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia (each governs part of the island) made a joint declaration to conserve around 220,000 sq km of rainforest – the “Heart of Borneo” – through a network of protected areas and sustainable forest management.
Why is Borneo so special?
Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, being home to an estimated 15,000 different plant species. Borneo is home to the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower; the largest flower in the world.Borneo is thought to be home to around 222 mammals – 44 of which are only found in Borneo.
