The (Indonesian) Forestry Department's conservation director, Toni Soehartono, admitted the practice was widespread but urged understanding of its motivations.

"I'm sure that happens -- in order to establish palm oil land companies clear forests, which causes the death of fauna such as orang-utans and gibbons in Kalimantan, and elephants, tigers and others, including orang-utans, in Sumatra," Dr Soehartono said.
"But all development requires sacrifice -- we just have to make it equal to some extent."

The Australian, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta correspondent, November 10, 2007

WE CARE BECAUSE :

• Rainforest destruction is still out of control. (This year Indonesia will be included in the Guinness Book of Records as the country which pursues the highest annual rate of deforestation. Currently an area of forest equal to 300 soccer fields is being destroyed every hour in the country) more

• Fires are burning across Borneo and Sumatra, fuelling global warming (Indonesia is the third highest carbon emitter due to peatland fires.) more

• Both orangutan species are within 20 years of extinction in the wild (killed daily in palm
  oil plantations) more

• Social conflict and human-rights’ abuses are commonly associated with oil palm expansion more

• Severe environmental pollution is associated with palm oil processing more

• Lack of labeling means lack of choice in consuming palm oil more

• Australians consume an average of 10kg of Palm Oil per person each year

Rainforest Information Centre
Australian Orangutan Project
Friends of the Earth
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation