the largest palm oil plantations are located in indonesia.
the largest palm oil plantations are located in indonesia.
where are the largest palm oil plantations located?
indonesia
ran's rainforest agribusiness campaign, the problem with palm oil, centers around the social and environmental impact of palm oil plantations in the rainforests of indonesia and malaysia. palm oil plantations in these areas result in the clearcutting of tropical hardwoods, the killing of local wildlife, the displacement of local communities and a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. the campaign’s main target has been cargill, a privately owned agribusiness company and the largest supplier of palm oil to the united states. while still applying pressure to cargill, in 2010 ran began campaigning for responsible use of palm oil by food production giant general mills through direct action tactics, negotiation and membership engagement; eight months later general mills issued a strong palm oil policy and committed to getting all of its palm oil from responsible sources by 2015. the campaign simultaneously collaborated with teenagers madison vorva and rhiannon tomtishen to help them in their campaign to make girl scout cookies palm-oil free. the two young women were awarded the prestigious brower youth award for their work.
rainforest action network
also a major threat are palm oil plantations, particularly in an area on the west coast of aceh known as tripa. palm oil plantations in this area are primarily located on peat swamps up to three metres deep. between 50 and 100 million tonnes of carbon is stored in the peat swamps, and is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when the peat is burned. palm oil plantations clear primary forest and burn the peat swamps in order to construct large canals to facilitate the planting of palm oil. the land degradation caused by palm oil plantations in tripa compromises the welfare of local communities and destroys the habitats of a number of charismatic animal species, including the highest density of orangutans found anywhere in the world. despite a two-year moratorium on forest clearance, governor irwardi yusuf issued an official permit to oil palm corporation pt kallista alam to cut-and-burn the tripa peat swamp forest, endangering many rare species.
leuser ecosystem