This article from Mongabay, which links to a new report funded by the governments of Norway and Great Britain, briefly describes findings that “drivers [of deforestation] differ on a regional scale. For example, cattle ranching and large-scale agriculture are major drivers of deforestation in Latin America, whereas palm oil development, intensive agriculture, and pulp and paper plantations are principal drivers in Indonesia” (Mongabay, Sept 2012). In total, the report found, various agricultural uses for deforested forest land account for 80% of deforestation word-wide.
It makes sense that any complete attempt to address the challenge of curbing deforestation–without compromising economic growth or agricultural development–will need to take into account, among other things, “historical lack of transparency around land use and powerful interests keen to maintain business-as-usual approaches to forest management” (Mongabay, Sept 2012).
Where Indonesia is concerned, it seems that addressing the way land is managed in palm oil planting could be a major part of the puzzle. For this reason, it also seems logical that supporting palm oil farmers who are making strong efforts to move to sustainable practices is an important step in addressing the agricultural drivers of deforestation in Indonesia.
And since the ongoing increases in globalization, “consumption and human population” (Mongabay, Sept 2012) are also clearly at play, it is exciting to me that people can make a difference from afar just by choosing to buy products with ingredients grown sustainably, and by demanding the inclusion of such ingredients in their goods.  🙂
If you agree, and think that my idea, based on this principle, can help consumers easily play a role in curbing forest loss and preserving great apes’ habitats, please vote for my blog in the Great Apes Survival Partnership‘s blog competition. Choose my name, Adriana Klompus, from the list, and press Submit.
Palms off Palm 