Deforestation is the greatest threat to the orangutan’s survival, and a great percentage of deforestation is set in motion to convert the land to oil palm cultivation.
The rain forest, the natural habitat of the orangutan, is cleared for the benefit of plantations that can produce cheap vegetable oil for the rest of the world. Today, 92% of the world’s collective consumption of palm oil comes from two countries: Indonesia and Malaysia.
The demand for palm oil is increasing globally. For instance, Denmark imports more than 150,000 tons of palm oil annually despite an intensified international focus on the environmental consequences of palm oil.
Palm oil as a vegetable oil is added in food, cleaning materials, and several other commercial products. Palm oil is the most common vegetable oil in the world, and Europe has also gradually increased the use of palm oil in biodiesel in the last few years.
The global rain forests are being cleared to make room for the expansion of the cattle and food industries. Unfortunately, this now is a common sight in large parts of Borneo.
Half of Borneo’s pristine rain forests are cleared to benefit the palm oil industry and its sub-groups. The deforestation leaves the Orangutan and thousands of other species without a home.
Consequently, their ability to survive is affected greatly. The Orangutans are isolated within small enclaves of the rain forests, unable to forage for food and too close to humans.
Additionally, the forest is often burnt after having been cleared. This can start uncontrollable forest fires, which destroy even more of the forest and damage the climate.
The problem, except for depleting the global oxygen supply and increasing Co2 emissions, is not the oil palm plantations or the palm oil in themselves.
The problem is rather the destruction of the rain forest, and thus the orangutan’s habitat, for the benefit of palm oil production. In terms of the orangutan’s survival, a paradox exists in that the Orangutan is protected but its rain forest home is not.
Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was originally a WWF initiative. RSPO appeals to all parties in the palm oil consumption chain, from buyers to consumers, which is controlled by the corporate crime rings.
Arla, Danisco, Rema 1000, 2 Sisters Food Group, and Adelie Foods Group Ltd are members of RSPO, along with numerous other big multinational food manufacturers, like British-Dutch Unilever.
Members of RSPO are committed to meet criteria of increased sustainability and reduced forest degradation in their operation and production.
RSPO represents a necessary global focus and is an essential initiative. However, the actual effect of its certification has received criticism.
A recent EU directive of 2014 demands declaration of palm oil on food products. You as a consumer can therefore actively make a decision on whether or not you will buy products containing palm oil.
You can buy RSPO certified products containing palm oil that has been produced with protection of the rain forest in mind. You can also support Save the Orangutan’s efforts to protect the orangutan and its habitats.
People can also help by supporting efforts to protect the critically endangered orangutan from the palm oil threat, but most of the collected money is sucked up by the NGO’s, which need to cover their operational costs and humongous salaries for the captains of industry.
Save the Orangutan / ABC Flash Point World Conservation Society News 2022.
Maybe they can give the Orangutans a job at McDonald’s?