The increased demand for palm oil – which is obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree and can be grown only in tropical environments – is fuelling destruction of the rainforest habitat of Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, pushing those endangered species even closer to extinction. Estimates show that if something isn’t done soon to stop the spread of palm oil plantations into the forests that harbour these orangutans, they will be extinct in twenty years.
Supply and demand pressures are driving the production of palm oil up to an all time high. Palm oil is now the second most widely produced edible oil. Palm oil is found in many everyday products including biscuits, crackers, batters, chips, shampoo, skin care and beauty products, in different varieties of pet food, to name a few. It is also found in a wide array of products sold in natural food stores. Palm Oil is also used as a biofuel and the demand for this fuel alternative is adding to the problem. |
