Palm oil conservation
July 23rd, 2019
⏰ 1 minute read
⏰ 1 minute read
Question
There are so many negative images of palm oil. They’re all false. Unhealthy is one made ridiculous by the vitamin packed red palm oil. Deforestation is another despite the fact palm oil plantations are barely growing. Perhaps the biggest one of all is orangutans. Here’s a question. Which is growing faster palm oil plantations or orangutan populations?
Google
You probably assume the answer is of course palm oil. The media headlines tell us that orangutan populations are plummeting & heading towards extinction. But is this true? A simple Google search for research reports on population numbers in 1998, 2008 & 2018 will show you the population estimates have quadrupled!
WWF
The environmentalists argue that the population estimates are increasing because the data collection is getting better. They continue to argue numbers have halved. But as the estimates keep rising, a halving of the population becomes tough. The most recent study of orangutans in Sabah by WWF found the number of orangutans is stable for 15 years.
EHP
Despite the arguing, it is becoming clearer & clearer that the orangutan population is stable to rising, while palm oil growth is falling into decline. The main issue now is conservation & Palm oil companies are becoming leaders in orangutan conservation. At EHP we have 2 projects. Rimba Raya in Kalteng & Amour in Kalbar.
Image
The image of palm oil has suffered terribly to today. But it’s now time for this image to begin a rehabilitation. First the historical story of what has really happened in the last 20 years is being rewritten. Next palm oil companies will become famous for their efforts at conservation.
Sebastian
There are so many negative images of palm oil. They’re all false. Unhealthy is one made ridiculous by the vitamin packed red palm oil. Deforestation is another despite the fact palm oil plantations are barely growing. Perhaps the biggest one of all is orangutans. Here’s a question. Which is growing faster palm oil plantations or orangutan populations?
You probably assume the answer is of course palm oil. The media headlines tell us that orangutan populations are plummeting & heading towards extinction. But is this true? A simple Google search for research reports on population numbers in 1998, 2008 & 2018 will show you the population estimates have quadrupled!
WWF
The environmentalists argue that the population estimates are increasing because the data collection is getting better. They continue to argue numbers have halved. But as the estimates keep rising, a halving of the population becomes tough. The most recent study of orangutans in Sabah by WWF found the number of orangutans is stable for 15 years.
EHP
Despite the arguing, it is becoming clearer & clearer that the orangutan population is stable to rising, while palm oil growth is falling into decline. The main issue now is conservation & Palm oil companies are becoming leaders in orangutan conservation. At EHP we have 2 projects. Rimba Raya in Kalteng & Amour in Kalbar.
Image
The image of palm oil has suffered terribly to today. But it’s now time for this image to begin a rehabilitation. First the historical story of what has really happened in the last 20 years is being rewritten. Next palm oil companies will become famous for their efforts at conservation.
Sebastian