Liberia and Cameroon are two other African countries that are attracting overseas investment in palm oil production. Healthy, ethical, and sustainable food for all. Support campaigns like #LoveTheLeuser, which seeks to protect Sumatras Leuser Ecosystem against further industry encroachment. At Food Revolution Network (FRN), our mission is healthy, ethical, sustainable food for all. Privacy Policy | Get Email Updates | Website Survey It is estimated that half of the packaged products on supermarket shelves in the United States contain palm oil. "At present, 80% of orangutan habitat has been altered or lost.". It is estimated that 1000-5000 orangutans are killed each year. And in India, consumption increased more than 230% since 2001. Palm oil is a tropical oil that originates from the fruit of palm trees. Ancient elephant migratory paths run through this region and are being disrupted by palm oil expansion, RAN said. Greenhouse gas emissions also result when rainforest is cleared for oil palm plantations. You can easily limit your use of products containing palm oil by using simple substances like bicarb and vinegar for cleaning and handmade soap from small manufacturers, and by refraining from buying processed foods. The coastguard has advised dog owners keep their pets off the beach and on a lead as although the palm oil has been removed "it is possible that more could come ashore". SPECIES AFFECTED BY PALM OIL. If the whole world is made aware of the detrimental effects of palm oil on the environment, the animals, and the people; the . Given the global ubiquity of palm oil, its pushing the industry to stop their unsustainable practices that will save animal lives and rainforests.. Deforestation is one of the leading causes of climate change and species extinction. Palm oil is an edible oil that comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). Fair for Life is another standard to look for. Under the Book & Claim system, manufacturers and retailers buy credits from RSPO-certified growers and crushers and independent smallholders. They dont need to utilize or add as much chemical fertilizer (which is expensive) to forest land cleared by fire and fertilized from ash produced by the fire. The two most affected countries in this expansion are Indonesia and Malaysia, home of the imperiled orangutans. Conditions of Memphis Zoos Pandas Raise Big Questions. But why is it bad? Clear-cutting forests to establish palm oil plantations contributes to global warming by releasing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases into the air ( 6, 8 ).. Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, having even surpassed soya in terms of usage. Papua New Guinea, where there are reported to be at least two hundred species of mammals, including possums, wallabies, and the endangered tree kangaroo, and more than seven hundred bird species, is also considered to be ripe for further exploitation. I am lucky that I have the luxury of choice, so I choose a palm oil free lifestyle, but, for the millions of people in developing countries who will never even know why they should boycott palm oil, or arent able to, I choose to lobby companies to switch to using palm oil that has caused no deforestation on their behalf.. The OLT spearheads the PONGO (Palm Oil and NGO) Alliance, which aims to protect orangutan habitat in an oil palm landscape. Palm oil is destroying rainforests. Producing the edible oil wreaks havoc on the environment, leading to deforestation, habitat degradation, and loss of animal habitat. In addition, deforestation may cause soil erosion and, because most forests have been cleared through the use of fire, massive air pollution from smoke. Another study by Princeton and a Swiss institution reported that between 1990 and 2005, up to 60% of palm oil expansion occurred at the expense of primary tropical rain forest. The pressure from consumers demanding sustainability has a strong knock-on effect all the way up the supply chain to the producer and to the delivery of a sustainable product globally, Desilets says. Support campaigns for the mandatory labelling of palm oil in food products. The burning of rainforest lands to make way for oil palms create significant air pollution. In contrast, very "heavy" oils (like bunker oils, which are used to fuel ships) look black and may be sticky for a time until they weather sufficiently, but even then they can persist in the environment for months or even years if not removed. Much of it had already been deforested for rubber and coconut plantations before being repurposed for growing oil palms. Wildlife habitat is destroyed to make way for oil palms, and animals who stray onto plantations in search of food are shot or poisoned. Replanting of oil palm threatens biodiversity. The drying out of peatland is one of the main causes of the forest fires that have ravaged Indonesia for decades. Palm oil is the most consumed oil in the world. These jungles are becoming more accessible which is an advantage . I produce a website, Changing Times, which is focused primarily on environmental issues and human rights. Fewer than eight hundred of the primates remain and they are surviving in 1,100 square kilometres of remaining habitat, which is divided into three blocks of forest, separated by roads and agricultural land. Saturated fats elevate the body's cholesterol levels and build up plaque in the arteries. Another dark side to the palm oil industry is that its ruining the lives of people who depend on rainforests for their livelihoods. Almost all oil palm grows in areas that were once tropical moist forests, some of them quite recently. How does palm oil affect the Amazon rainforest? As a result of the expansion of this crop, around 300 football fields of rainforestare chopped down every hour to make way for palm plantations. Panut Hadisiswoyo also urges consumers to pressure the palm oil industry to operate responsibly, rather than simply boycotting the product indiscriminately. For school were doing persuasive writing and mine is about palm oil. Most of the land used for oil palm cultivation was originally rainforest that was home to diverse species of wildlife, many of them endangered. UCS developed a scorecard that ranks companies according to their commitment to using palm oil that is free from deforestation, peatland destruction, and other measures such as traceability and transparency. The move took effect at the end of 2018. Big swathes of these crops also act as barriers to the movement of species across the landscape. Palm oil deforestation in Nigeria. Palm Oil is taken from the Oil Palm tree which grows in the tropical rainforests of Malaysia. Greenwashing: 5 steps to choose truly healthy and sustainable products, Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. First, we should distinguish between "light" and "heavy" oils. In May 2017, Widodo approved a two-year extension to a moratorium on the issuing of new licences for plantations on primary forest and peatland. (Left alone, oil palm trees can live much longer than this, even up to 200 years.). (It is far less highly processed and has more valuable nutrients left in it.) And written records describing it date back to the 15th century. Of the fifty elephants found dead in Aceh and North Sumatra in the past four years, the majority were found on oil palm plantations. Palm oil and palm kernel oil are found in all manner of baked goods, such as cookies, bread, and potato chips, as well as in chocolate and milk (where it adds Vitamin A). Luff says the palm oil industry should be encouraged to produce non-conflict palm oil, but this is a mammoth task that will take time. You are always free to easily unsubscribe at any time. This, RAN said, was in clear violation of the moratorium on all forest clearance for oil palm cultivation that was announced by Indonesias president, Joko Widodo, in April 2016. Originally native to South America and West Africa, palm oil plantations have now spread throughout the wet tropics to Papua New Guinea, parts of Asia, Kenya, and also back to countries in West Africa and South America where the palms are native. If you wish to go palm oil free, and are in Australia, the UK, Spain, or Austria, you can choose products with the Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Programme (POFCAP) trademark. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a bird's feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. As you can see, palm oil is an . "This is primarily due to human activities including rainforest destruction for palm oil plantations," the group said. While palm oil is not poisonous to dogs, it does have a laxative effect and, if eaten, can cause sickness, diarrhoea, dehydration and, in extreme cases, pancreatitis. It comes from the fleshy fruit of palm trees specifically, oil palm trees, aka the Elaeis guineensis tree, according to the WWF. The growth and production practices are also hard on our four-legged friends, and even fellow two-legged ones! When elephant habitat is lost through land clearing and deforestation, hungry elephants seek food in palm oil plantations or villages and fields. For instance, orangutan populations declined at similar rates whether they lived near RSPO-certified or non-certified oil palm plantations. What Are the Real Superfoods? The Swiss-based PanEco Foundation, whichruns the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), resigned from the roundtable, citing, among other things, what it called a sheer level of inaction in addressing complaints against errant members. A single tablespoon of palm oil contains 120 calories and 6.7 grams of saturated fat. Palm oil is a major component in biodiesel. By maintaining a healthy balance of cholesterol (both . A vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of oil palms. 804 SE 1st Street, Suite A Keep yourself informed so that you can cite accurate facts and figures. It leads consumers to think their oil is safe for the environment. This type of oil is rich in unhealthy saturated fats that can affect your cholesterol levels. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Today, Malaysia and Indonesia are the worlds largest producers and exporters of palm oil. If you purchase products from one of these partners, FRN may at times receive a portion of the proceeds. They see the area as their home range and will go there no matter what.. Palm oil is a popular oil found in many foods. And if youre going to eat processed foods, look for those made without this controversial oil. How does palm oil affect animals? In August this year, the worlds first palm oil free certification trademark was launched in Australia. Read More, The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), The Directorate General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Ditjen KSDAE). Although usually only by people who profit from selling it.). Palm oil is hidden under many names, in many products, and it's used in many different ways. As well as widespread habitat loss for endangered species like Asian rhinos, elephants, tigers and orangutans, this can lead to significant soil erosion. Understanding both types of impacts can help spill responders minimize overall impacts to ecological communities and help them to recover much more quickly. There are severe damages in all the areas in which there are palm oil extractions. The move took effect at the end of 2018. Palm oil helps in preventing cardiovascular issues. I am an Irish journalist, based mainly in Southeast Asia. Message and data rates may apply. The organization has developed a set of standards to produce palm oil, , using the principles of regenerative agriculture, They regenerate land that is already degraded or convert existing palm farms to organic, The 4 Scientifically Proven Pillars of Heart Health, 7 Festive and Healthy Mardi Gras Recipes That Are Powered by Plants, Why School Lunches in America Are Unhealthy and 10 Ways You Can Take Action to Improve Them, How to Wash Vegetables and Fruits to Remove Pesticides, How Diet and Good Gut Health Can Help Manage Pain & Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, 11 Banned Foods Americans Should Stop Eating, Why the Global Rise in Vegan and Plant-Based Eating is No Fad (30x Increase in US Vegans + Other Astounding Vegan Stats). To learn more details about this topic, check out the Oiled Wildlife Care Network from the University of California at Davis. Palm oil plantations are ripping through the heart of the Asian elephant habitat forcing them close to humans and into conflict. An area where a crop of oil palm trees is grown. The CEO of International Animal Rescue, Alan Knight,points to the complexity of the palm oil debate. Yet, despite our increased and repeated exposure daily, allergists, pharmacists, and other medical professionals say you can't be allergic to palm oil. And it certainly isnt necessary in your diet. Orangutans are one of the animals most affected by palm oil. Both of the primates legs and arms were broken and she was severely malnourished. Deforestation makes wildlife more vulnerable to poaching. What Is TMAO? In between light and heavy oils are many different kinds of medium oils, which will last for some amount of time in the environment and will have different degrees of toxicity. Ame Vanorio. Malayan tapir. Information and resources shared by FRN are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any type of disease or condition. The Food Revolution Network team has moved all of our products onto one platform. Male Bornean orangutan at Samboja Lestari, a reforestation, wildlife rehabilitation, and ecotourism project operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation outside Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Oil palms only grow in the tropics and need much water. Image credit Aul Rah, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 / cropped. Increasingly, palm oil is used as a biofuel. Palm oil accounts for 11% of Indonesias export earnings and is the most valuable agricultural export. (You can unsubscribe anytime). Being at the top of the ecosystem, leopards and tigers can only thrive when there is adequate availability of prey species, many of which are herbivores, and the population ofthese animals greatly depends on their habitat. Privacy Policy. The conversion to date, and future expansion, threatens biodiversity and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Large scale conversion of tropical rain forests has had an absolutely devastating impact on biodiversity in both Borneo and Sumatra. Desilets says, however, that even with its faults, the RSPO is significantly superior to business as usual. Desilets says that 10,000 orangutans are living in areas that have been identified for industrial oil palm cultivation in Borneo. Animal People, Inc. holds the perpetual non-exclusive right to distribute all content submitted to the Animal People Forum, in whole or in part, with proper attribution, in any electronic, print, or other medium currently existing or yet to be invented. In short, if you choose to use palm oil, look for unrefined red palm oil. An Interview with Dr. Diana Fleischman, Why Humans Disappearing From the Planet Could Be a Very Bad Thing For Animals, U.S. House Reintroduces Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act to Protect Sharks from Cruel Finning, The Dangerous Rhetoric of Contemporary Animal Rights Law: A Review of Marek Mullers, Using Data to End Dog Homelessness: The Global Dog Campaign. In Papua New Guinea in 2014, the IUCN listed twenty species as critically endangered, 42 as endangered, 257 as vulnerable, and 251 as near threatened. Publication of content does not imply that Animal People, Inc. endorses the ideas expressed within. The loss of rainforests threatens the environment of the entire planet. Support NGOs working to rescue wildlife and protect and restore their habitat. There were between 2,000 and 3,000 orangutans in the area in the 1990s, but only a few hundred remain today. However, it's not so easy to say which kind is worst. Palm oil is likely healthier than butter, but you should not add palm oil on top of other types of oil. To opt-out of ever having your info sold to 3rd parties under any circumstances, click here. Palm oil does contain some healthy nutrients. In February this year, the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) published evidence of illegal clearance of critically endangered Sumatran elephant habitat within the Leuser Ecosystem, by the palm oil companyPT Agra Bumi Niaga (PT ABN). You can read an overview of this topic at EPA's Rescuing Wildlife page and find more information at the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research website and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network website. Since oil palm trees grow in tropical climates near the equator, palm oil has been and continues to be a major driver of deforestation of some of the world's most biodiverse forests. If you believe that your work has been submitted to the Animal People Forum without your permission, please contact info@animalpeopleforum.org, For more information, see After palm oil plantations are established, displaced starving orangutans are frequently killed in the most brutal ways as agricultural pests when they try to obtain food in the plantation areas. Despite the health risks, the greatest controversy over palm oil surrounds the industrys impact on the environment. However, while they are present, light oils present two significant hazards. Calen May-Tobin from the Union of Concerned Scientistssays oil palms store more carbon than any other vegetable oil crop and the typical rotation for an oil palm plantation is 25 years. Palm oil is ubiquitous! The POFCAP spokeswoman, Bev Luff, says that protecting the worlds rainforests requires a multi-pronged approach. The orangutans are particularly vulnerable, as they depend on large forest areas, and when searching for food they often get lost in the palm oil plantations, where they're seen as pests and destroyed. Up to 300 football fields of forest are cleared every hour to make room for palm plantations.The power is in your palm. In August last year, the RSPO was fiercely criticised by NGOs and others concerned about environmental protection and human rights when it decided to reinstate its certification of the Malaysian company IOI despite there being clear evidence that the IOI group had engaged in illegal land clearance, including on peatland, and illegal planting. The executive director of the UK-based charity, the Orangutan Land Trust (OLT), Michelle Desilets, encourages consumers to contact the customer services departments of companies that use palm oil and insist that they source deforestation-free Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). Spilled oil can harm living things because its chemical constituents are poisonous. Boynton Beach, Fl 33435, Copyright 2022 Raider Rooter. Whether you chose to minimize the threat that palm oil poses to the tiger through personal consumption choices or by supporting an organization, we can all play a role to help protect the future of this and many other species. Sumatran elephants. One of the orangutans being cared for at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programmes quarantine centre a male named Leuser was shot at least 62 times with an air rifle and was blinded by the pelletsthat lodged in his eyes. We are aware of instances where orangutans have been captured and even killed on plantations belonging to palm oil companies that are members of the RSPO., Protest held by Friends of the Earth Indonesia outside an RSPO meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008. It is a bland ecosystem. Sun bears are proficient climbers and spend much of their time in the trees, searching for honey and. According to the nonprofit organization, Rainforest Rescue, oil palm plantations are the leading cause of rainforest destruction in Malaysia and Indonesia. These affiliations support our work and allow us to continue bringing you valuable, life-changing content. Child labor is another serious problem. Over 90% of orangutans are endangered due to palm oil plantations being built in their habitat and palm trees being cut down. By opting in for text messages, you authorize FRN to deliver marketing messages using an automatic telephone dialing system. It is found in products ranging from soap, cosmetics, and cleaning products to candles, chocolate, and ice cream, and it is also used to make biofuel. The type of oil spilled matters because different types of oil behave differently in the environment, and animals and birds are affected differently by different types of oil. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If oil remains on a beach for a while, other creatures, such as snails, clams, and terrestrial animals may suffer. Contributes to global warming. They produce 90% of the worlds palm oil. The 12 companies are Colgate-Palmolive, L'Oreal, Hershey, Kellogg's, Kraft, Mars, Mondelez, General Mills, Heinz, Nestl, PepsiCo, Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever. Image credit Nomad Tales, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. A person or thing that eats or uses something. Clear cutting primal forest is standard practice for the conventional palm industry, which displaces (or kills) native specieslike the Sumatran tiger, the Asian rhinoceros and the Sumatran Orangutanputting them at high risk for extinction. Instead, the short-term threat from heavy oils comes from their ability to smother organisms whereas over the long-term, some chronic health effects like tumors may result in some organisms. Our work depends on it. They made an extremely moving animated ad describing their choice.
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