The significance

Palm oil is found in a range of products in the supermarket, most commonly as a cooking oil, but also everything from snack foods and chocolates to soaps and soup.

In 2014, Indonesia produced and exported around 50 percent of the world's supply.

Other
Indonesia
Malaysia
In million megatonnes

USES OF PALM OIL

  • FOOD
    Margarines, breads, instant noodles, confectionary

  • CONSUMER PRODUCTS
    Cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste

  • INDUSTRIALS
    Cleaning agents, detergents, grease

  • BIOFUEL

The footprint

Most of Indonesia’s palm oil plantations are on the island of Sumatra and the Indonesian portion of Borneo.



The impact

In Sumatra

Riau province accounted for nearly 40 percent of Sumatra's palm oil output. The province also sits on carbon-rich peatland.

When forests burn, carbon stored in the peat releases into the atmosphere making Indonesia one of the largest emitter of greenhouse gases caused by land-use change and forestry.

In Kalimantan

Plantations are spread throughout the coastal regions. The less affected central region contains intact forests.

The response

In 2011, the Indonesian government enacted a two-year moratorium on new licenses in primary natural forests and peatlands. It was extended in 2013, and again in 2015.



Sources: Global Forest Watch; World Resources Institute; USDA; Radobank