How is the production of palm oil connected to deforestation?
Sadly, palm oil and deforestation closely relate. Its growing consumption increases demand, which aggravates the situation even more. The palm oil deforestation map covers the rainforests of Latin America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, bringing negative consequences for tropical wildlife and our planet in general.
Is palm oil responsible for deforestation?
Significant deforestation has been caused there by the expansion of oil palm and pulpwood plantations, as well as road infrastructure and processing plants. Palm oil development accounted for an estimated 36% of deforestation in Sumatra between 1985 and 2016, and 42% in Borneo between 1973 and 2015.
Which state is largest producer of palm oil in India?
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is the major Oil Palm growing State in India with a production capacity of 20 lakh tons while other States such as Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh etc. together produce another 5 lakh tons.
Can palm oil be produced in India?
India currently produces palm oil on more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of land and plans to cover an additional area of 650,000 (160,6184 acres) hectares by 2025-26. India requires 25 million tons of palm oil every year, according to M.V. Prasad, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research.
How much palm oil is responsible for deforestation?
Some studies suggest that palm oil has played a very small role in global forest loss. One study suggests that palm oil is responsible for around 2% of global tree loss. Another suggests it is responsible for only 0.2% of intact forest loss.
Is palm oil the biggest cause of deforestation?
Palm oil has been and continues to be a major driver of deforestation of some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, destroying the habitat of already endangered species like the Orangutan, pygmy elephant and Sumatran rhino.
Where does India import palm oil from?
India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Argentina.
Can we grow palm trees in India?
There are around 7-8 crore palm trees in India at present. It is the state tree of Tamil Nadu, which accounts for half of the total trees in the country! Palm tree cultivation is an integral part of Indian agriculture.
What is deforestation free palm oil?
Pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Greenpeace has led many companies to commit to only using “deforestation-free” palm oil products – those made exclusively using palm oil from plantations that have not cleared forests. …
What percentage of deforestation is due to palm oil?
Zooming into the role of palm oil in forest loss, FAO data shows, that palm oil has contributed to an estimated 5% of tropical deforestation in tropical areas. When looking at global deforestation, palm oil contributes to 2.3% of global deforestation (The European Commission).
Is India still importing palm oil?
India, the world’s leading vegetable oil buyer, had imported 8.24 lakh tonne palm oils in July 2020. The government on June 30, decided to allow unrestricted import of RBD palmoloein and palm oils till December this year, which the SEA said would be detrimental to the interest of domestic refiners and oilseeds.
