{"id":306,"date":"2018-07-24T17:15:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-24T17:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/chapter\/2-4-hunger-for-resources-leaves-sumatras-orangutans-without-homes\/"},"modified":"2018-07-26T18:38:34","modified_gmt":"2018-07-26T18:38:34","slug":"2-4-hunger-for-resources-leaves-sumatras-orangutans-without-homes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/chapter\/2-4-hunger-for-resources-leaves-sumatras-orangutans-without-homes\/","title":{"raw":"2.4 Hunger for Resources Leaves Sumatra\u2019s Orangutans Without Homes","rendered":"2.4 Hunger for Resources Leaves Sumatra\u2019s Orangutans Without Homes"},"content":{"raw":"\n<h2 class=\"s1\">Chayli T. Buenger<\/h2>\n<h5 class=\"s4\">Orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia are losing their habitat due to deforestation from palm oil production. What is palm oil and why is its production causing deforestation? What efforts are being implemented to save the orangutan and combat deforestation?<\/h5>\n[caption id=\"attachment_315\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/figure-1_-male-sumatra-orangutan\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-315\"><img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171519\/Figure-1_-Male-Sumatra-Orangutan.jpg\" alt=\"Male Sumatran Orangutans\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315\"><\/a> Figure 1. Orangutans face hardship because their habitat is being destroyed by deforestation.<br>\nPhotograph by Java Bogor, 2010. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.[\/caption]\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">The world\u2019s rainforests play a vital role in capturing carbon dioxide, providing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#habitat\" id=\"g-48BE5BA5-B0D4-467A-A0B8-FDB32B92BBD1\"><span class=\"c3\">habitat<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> to many species of animals, and providing resources for human use. The rainforests in Sumatra, Indonesia are home to many different species, including the <\/span><span class=\"c4\">Pongo abelii<\/span><span class=\"c1\">, or the Sumatran orangutan<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> (Figure 1 and 2). <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#deforestation\" id=\"g-84C7E8CC-C0F8-4540-B98E-92D31A6670B3\"><span class=\"c3\">Deforestation<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> of the Sumatran rainforest is occurring because Indonesia is the world\u2019s largest exporter of palm oil, and to expand palm oil plantations, more land is needed<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> (Figure 3). The World Wildlife Fund suggests that 50 percent of Sumatra\u2019s rainforests were decimated from 1985 to 2008.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> This deforestation has greatly damaged the ecosystem. The hope of saving the rainforest remains, as there is ongoing work by both the government and other organizations to prevent further deforestation.<\/span>\n[caption id=\"attachment_316\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171522\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.02.56-PM-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"World Map Highlighting Indonesia\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" class=\"size-large wp-image-316\"> Figure 2a. Distribution of the Sumatran orangutan in the wild.&nbsp;<br>\nImage modified from anonymous, 2014. Public Domain.[\/caption]\n<p>[caption id=\"attachment_317\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171524\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.03.35-PM-1024x516.jpg\" alt=\"Map of Indonesia highlights the distribution of orangutans in Sumatra\" width=\"1024\" height=\"516\" class=\"size-large wp-image-317\"> Figure 2b. Distribution of the Sumatran orangutan in the wild.&nbsp;<br>\nModified from Udo Schroter, 2010. Public Domain.[\/caption][caption id=\"attachment_318\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171527\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.03.54-PM-1024x763.jpg\" alt=\"Female Sumatran Orangutan\" width=\"1024\" height=\"763\" class=\"size-large wp-image-318\"> Figure 2c. The Sumatran orangutan is considered to be Critically Endangered and is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.<br>\nModified from Greg Hume, 2012. CC BY-SA 3.0.[\/caption]\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">The demand for palm oil is driven by its versatile properties. Palm oil is used for cooking, and also as a biofuel.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> It is often on the ingredient lists of many processed foods such as cookies, candy, and cereal bars. To feed the world\u2019s increasing demand for palm oil, forests are being cleared to create new space for plantations. This deforestation is occurring primarily in the lowland area, which is the habitat of the orangutans.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> With plans to double their palm oil production by 2020, Indonesia will likely suffer greater deforestation as more rainforest is cleared for the palm oil plantations.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">6<\/sup><\/span>\n[caption id=\"attachment_319\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1017\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171530\/Figure-3_Palm_oil_production_in_Jukwa_Village_Ghana-04.jpg\" alt=\"Palm Nuts\" width=\"1017\" height=\"461\" class=\"size-full wp-image-319\"> Figure 3. Palm oil is derived from the colorful palm nut.<br>\nPhotograph by oneVillage Initiative, 2008. CC BY-SA 2.0.[\/caption]\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Preventing deforestation becomes more difficult considering the circumstances faced by the farmers who grow palm oil. Most farmers will choose to earn extra money rather than <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#preserve\" id=\"g-AA39B5DD-52BA-47E5-A81F-930708EDDA7A\"><span class=\"c3\">preserve<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> the rainforest because these farmers are able to profit from clearing the forest to plant palm trees and also from selling the wood of the cut rainforest trees.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Tourism is another booming industry in Indonesia which is damaged by deforestation.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">7<\/sup><\/span>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Currently, there are approximately 7,000 Sumatran orangutans remaining in the wild.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> However, the orangutan <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#population\" id=\"g-C9A24950-5A01-4EC8-8A44-FCF26B806A75\"><span class=\"c3\">population<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> continues to decline as their habitat is destroyed. When the rainforest is cleared for palm oil plantations, survival is decreased for female orangutans and their offspring because they unable to move from the deforested areas due to their small <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#home\" id=\"g-EDD30A17-3396-46A5-B155-A3B2E6E4A2D5\"><span class=\"c3\">home range<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c3\">s<\/span><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> A decline in orangutan population threatens rainforest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#biodiversity\" id=\"g-42F90CF3-1AE3-4225-BD6F-FF9BE3FDC749\"><span class=\"c3\">biodiversity<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">. Orangutans disperse seeds by consuming fruit throughout the forest.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Therefore, without orangutans to disperse seeds, there will be damaging effects to the rainforest ecosystem.<\/span>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Research conducted by Pin Koh and other researchers (2011) has mapped deforested areas and areas of palm oil plantations. Palm oil plantations were mapped out with daily <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#modis\" id=\"g-F92C0644-A1B4-4FBE-8734-85372F4D7D4B\"><span class=\"c3\">MODIS images<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>8 <\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> These images showed that palm oil plantations are contributing to deforestation. The researchers concluded that the remaining untouched forests are at risk, and that reforestation of deforested areas is necessary.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">8<\/sup><\/span>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">David Gaveau and his research team (2009) mapped out deforested areas from 1990 to 2006 using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#landsat\" id=\"g-12505E1F-C5C5-4C03-91AD-49565DFB0A5C\"><span class=\"c3\">Landsat<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> Thematic Mapper (LANDSAT TM), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (LANDSAT ETM), and satellite images. Their results indicated that greater than eight percent of the land was lost to deforestation and that the percentage is increasing.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Gaveau also learned that if <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#reducing\" id=\"g-C0123AA7-B89E-41DA-8943-EA1D17B134A6\"><span class=\"c3\">REDD<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> was implemented, less deforestation would occur.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">1<\/sup><\/span>\n[caption id=\"attachment_320\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1022\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171532\/Figure-4_Riau_palm_oil_2007.jpg\" alt=\"Clear Cut Forest in Sumatra\" width=\"1022\" height=\"541\" class=\"size-full wp-image-320\"> Figure 4. Deforestation near Riau, Sumatra makes way for the expanding palm oil industry.<br>\nPhotograph by Hayden Dagon, 2007. CC BY 2.0.[\/caption]\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">One approach to address deforestation is the introduction of sustainable palm oil production. Farmers are being taught environmentally sustainable methods to produce palm oil, as well as how to reduce their logging impact.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Farmers are also being encouraged to plant in non-forested areas in the hope that the government will offer tax breaks and subsidies for their cooperation.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> The use of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#carbon-credits\" id=\"g-D3D5C2A4-721A-445A-8758-53D1EF24103F\"><span class=\"c3\">carbon credits<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> could encourage the reduction in tree cutting. Carbon credits can be used by large industries that cannot reduce their own <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#emissions\" id=\"g-BFC2A7C3-333B-4443-8F12-543E77B5AB87\"><span class=\"c3\">emissions<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">. These industries pay money to people in other countries to protect forests, thus reducing the overall carbon dioxide in the world. REDD and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#roundtable\" id=\"g-758D5228-1A03-4C68-BFCB-82F3A60865B0\"><span class=\"c3\">RSPO<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> are two different organizations that are helping to create a more sustainable palm oil industry, reduce deforestation, and by extension, save the orangutans. Rainforest reconstruction is an interesting solution that is currently being implemented in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#borneo\" id=\"g-E72D2E19-07F8-4DA8-9A43-10397A62AE26\"><span class=\"c3\">Borneo<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> by microbiologist Willie Smits.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>9<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Smits bought a former palm oil plantation and is working to restore the land to rainforest. His restoration efforts seem to be working because birds have already returned.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>9<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Smits solution to deforestation demonstrates it is possible to restore the rainforest.<\/span>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Another potential solution to help palm oil plantations become more sustainable is to increase their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#crop\" id=\"g-13F22492-F2AD-4588-883E-D174B339F495\"><span class=\"c3\">crop yield<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c3\">s<\/span><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Crop yields can be increased by planting mature plants instead of seedlings. A mature palm oil plant produces more oil than an immature palm oil plant. If farmers planted crops at maturity, and removed them after the plants reach their peak period, more palm oil would be produced and less land would be needed.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>8<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Consumer pressure would also be beneficial to resolving the palm oil issue.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>10<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Consumers may demand sustainable sourced palm oil if they realize that palm oil is used in most of the processed foods they eat, and its production is causing harm to the Sumatran rainforest and orangutans. If this occurs, producers would be forced to become sustainable to meet consumer demands.<\/span>\n<p class=\"s2\">Research has shown that deforestation in Sumatra, Indonesia is a chronic problem that is exacerbated as the worldwide demand for palm oil increases.&nbsp;Orangutans are losing habitat from deforestation to create plantations for palm oil production. By working towards more sustainable palm oil plantations, researching innovative techniques to mitigate deforestation, and by reducing global demand for palm oil, the Sumatran rainforest and orangutans can be saved.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h4 class=\"s11\">References<\/h4>\n<ol class=\"s12\">\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Gaveau, D.L.A., et al. (2009). The future of forest and orangutans (Pongo abelii) in Sumatra: predicting impacts of oil palm plantations, road construction, and mechanisms for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation. Environmental Research Letters 4, 1-11.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Bradshaw, H. (2013, November 26). Sumatran orangutans: Meeting the refugees of the lost rainforest. BBC News.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Watts, J. (2013, October 14). The devastation of Indonesia\u2019s forests. CNN World.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Pin Koh, L. &amp; Wilcove, D.S. (2007). Cashing in palm oil for conservation. Nature 448, 993-994.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Nantha, H.S. &amp; Tisdell, C. (2009). The orangutan-oil palm conflict: economic constraints and opportunities for conservation. Springer 18, 487-502.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Walsh, B. (2011, March 7). Palm oil plantations equal deforestation. Time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Beukering, P.J.H.,et al. (2003). Economic valuation of the Leuser National Park on Sumatra, Indonesia. Ecological Economics 44, 43-62.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Pin Koh, L., et al. (2011). Remotely sensed evidence of tropical peatland conversion to palm oil. PNAS 1-6. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Little, J.B. (2008). Regrowing Borneo, tree by tree. Scientific American 18, 64-71.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Gilbert, N. (2012). Palm-oil boom raises conservation concerns. Nature 487, 14-15.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Bogor, Java. (2010). Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii). [Photograph]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/doliveck\/4752941079\/in\/photolist-8f14MZ-it5jQc-cD8ziN-gse6eG-qwN7y-gseBHz-gsegxY-gseJ9J-cD8v7w-fJXufj-gseXKP-7UwRDE-gsdENW-5GzJmu-gsfi7z-cXAWR5-aE4e9E-csDQgS-paMTV-9i2dtR-qwN3x-8YUiW3-qdecV-6Wsaup-6WT6Z5-6WT6GJ-pb3YCU-daVK98-daVwBB-ybEct-r2QATF-qKpMka-daVsRe-9y3wep-3c3Crk-daVFre-34cruV-daVQt7-5fpT9x-a5713u-6rB63c-8EbYfK-6Q1HfW-7y9ygz-7y9Hxr-fFZZgu-8v5udx-q5Q4no-58ypao-ekEv8z\"><span class=\"c6\">FlickrCommons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/2.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Anonymous. (2014). [Diagram of World Map]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:BlankMap-World6.svg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">Public Domain.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Schroter, Udo. (2010). [Diagram of Sumatran Orangutan range map]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mapa_distribuicao_pongo_abelii.png\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons.<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">Public Domain.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Hume, Greg. (2012). Sumatran Orangutan. [Photograph]. Retrieved from <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:SUMATRAN_ORANGUTAN.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons.<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-SA 3.0. <\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">oneVilliage Initiative. (2008). Palm oil production in Jakwa Villiage, Ghana. [Photograph]. Retrieved from <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Palm_oil_production_in_Jukwa_Village,_Ghana-04.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Dragon, Hayden. (2007). Oil Palm Concession in Riau, Samatra. [Photograph]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Riau_palm_oil_2007.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">.<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\"> CC BY 2.0.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n","rendered":"<h2 class=\"s1\">Chayli T. Buenger<\/h2>\n<h5 class=\"s4\">Orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia are losing their habitat due to deforestation from palm oil production. What is palm oil and why is its production causing deforestation? What efforts are being implemented to save the orangutan and combat deforestation?<\/h5>\n<div id=\"attachment_315\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/figure-1_-male-sumatra-orangutan\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-315\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171519\/Figure-1_-Male-Sumatra-Orangutan.jpg\" alt=\"Male Sumatran Orangutans\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-315\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Orangutans face hardship because their habitat is being destroyed by deforestation.<br \/>\nPhotograph by Java Bogor, 2010. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">The world\u2019s rainforests play a vital role in capturing carbon dioxide, providing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#habitat\" id=\"g-48BE5BA5-B0D4-467A-A0B8-FDB32B92BBD1\"><span class=\"c3\">habitat<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> to many species of animals, and providing resources for human use. The rainforests in Sumatra, Indonesia are home to many different species, including the <\/span><span class=\"c4\">Pongo abelii<\/span><span class=\"c1\">, or the Sumatran orangutan<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> (Figure 1 and 2). <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#deforestation\" id=\"g-84C7E8CC-C0F8-4540-B98E-92D31A6670B3\"><span class=\"c3\">Deforestation<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> of the Sumatran rainforest is occurring because Indonesia is the world\u2019s largest exporter of palm oil, and to expand palm oil plantations, more land is needed<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> (Figure 3). The World Wildlife Fund suggests that 50 percent of Sumatra\u2019s rainforests were decimated from 1985 to 2008.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> This deforestation has greatly damaged the ecosystem. The hope of saving the rainforest remains, as there is ongoing work by both the government and other organizations to prevent further deforestation.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_316\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-316\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171522\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.02.56-PM-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"World Map Highlighting Indonesia\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" class=\"size-large wp-image-316\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-316\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2a. Distribution of the Sumatran orangutan in the wild.&nbsp;<br \/>\nImage modified from anonymous, 2014. Public Domain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_317\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-317\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171524\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.03.35-PM-1024x516.jpg\" alt=\"Map of Indonesia highlights the distribution of orangutans in Sumatra\" width=\"1024\" height=\"516\" class=\"size-large wp-image-317\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-317\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2b. Distribution of the Sumatran orangutan in the wild.&nbsp;<br \/>\nModified from Udo Schroter, 2010. Public Domain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_318\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-318\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171527\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-12.03.54-PM-1024x763.jpg\" alt=\"Female Sumatran Orangutan\" width=\"1024\" height=\"763\" class=\"size-large wp-image-318\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2c. The Sumatran orangutan is considered to be Critically Endangered and is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.<br \/>\nModified from Greg Hume, 2012. CC BY-SA 3.0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">The demand for palm oil is driven by its versatile properties. Palm oil is used for cooking, and also as a biofuel.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> It is often on the ingredient lists of many processed foods such as cookies, candy, and cereal bars. To feed the world\u2019s increasing demand for palm oil, forests are being cleared to create new space for plantations. This deforestation is occurring primarily in the lowland area, which is the habitat of the orangutans.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> With plans to double their palm oil production by 2020, Indonesia will likely suffer greater deforestation as more rainforest is cleared for the palm oil plantations.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">6<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_319\" style=\"width: 1027px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-319\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171530\/Figure-3_Palm_oil_production_in_Jukwa_Village_Ghana-04.jpg\" alt=\"Palm Nuts\" width=\"1017\" height=\"461\" class=\"size-full wp-image-319\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-319\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 3. Palm oil is derived from the colorful palm nut.<br \/>\nPhotograph by oneVillage Initiative, 2008. CC BY-SA 2.0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Preventing deforestation becomes more difficult considering the circumstances faced by the farmers who grow palm oil. Most farmers will choose to earn extra money rather than <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#preserve\" id=\"g-AA39B5DD-52BA-47E5-A81F-930708EDDA7A\"><span class=\"c3\">preserve<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> the rainforest because these farmers are able to profit from clearing the forest to plant palm trees and also from selling the wood of the cut rainforest trees.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Tourism is another booming industry in Indonesia which is damaged by deforestation.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">7<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Currently, there are approximately 7,000 Sumatran orangutans remaining in the wild.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> However, the orangutan <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#population\" id=\"g-C9A24950-5A01-4EC8-8A44-FCF26B806A75\"><span class=\"c3\">population<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> continues to decline as their habitat is destroyed. When the rainforest is cleared for palm oil plantations, survival is decreased for female orangutans and their offspring because they unable to move from the deforested areas due to their small <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#home\" id=\"g-EDD30A17-3396-46A5-B155-A3B2E6E4A2D5\"><span class=\"c3\">home range<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c3\">s<\/span><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> A decline in orangutan population threatens rainforest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#biodiversity\" id=\"g-42F90CF3-1AE3-4225-BD6F-FF9BE3FDC749\"><span class=\"c3\">biodiversity<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">. Orangutans disperse seeds by consuming fruit throughout the forest.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Therefore, without orangutans to disperse seeds, there will be damaging effects to the rainforest ecosystem.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Research conducted by Pin Koh and other researchers (2011) has mapped deforested areas and areas of palm oil plantations. Palm oil plantations were mapped out with daily <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#modis\" id=\"g-F92C0644-A1B4-4FBE-8734-85372F4D7D4B\"><span class=\"c3\">MODIS images<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>8 <\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> These images showed that palm oil plantations are contributing to deforestation. The researchers concluded that the remaining untouched forests are at risk, and that reforestation of deforested areas is necessary.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">8<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">David Gaveau and his research team (2009) mapped out deforested areas from 1990 to 2006 using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#landsat\" id=\"g-12505E1F-C5C5-4C03-91AD-49565DFB0A5C\"><span class=\"c3\">Landsat<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> Thematic Mapper (LANDSAT TM), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (LANDSAT ETM), and satellite images. Their results indicated that greater than eight percent of the land was lost to deforestation and that the percentage is increasing.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Gaveau also learned that if <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#reducing\" id=\"g-C0123AA7-B89E-41DA-8943-EA1D17B134A6\"><span class=\"c3\">REDD<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> was implemented, less deforestation would occur.<\/span><span class=\"c5\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_320\" style=\"width: 1032px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-320\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171532\/Figure-4_Riau_palm_oil_2007.jpg\" alt=\"Clear Cut Forest in Sumatra\" width=\"1022\" height=\"541\" class=\"size-full wp-image-320\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 4. Deforestation near Riau, Sumatra makes way for the expanding palm oil industry.<br \/>\nPhotograph by Hayden Dagon, 2007. CC BY 2.0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">One approach to address deforestation is the introduction of sustainable palm oil production. Farmers are being taught environmentally sustainable methods to produce palm oil, as well as how to reduce their logging impact.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Farmers are also being encouraged to plant in non-forested areas in the hope that the government will offer tax breaks and subsidies for their cooperation.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> The use of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#carbon-credits\" id=\"g-D3D5C2A4-721A-445A-8758-53D1EF24103F\"><span class=\"c3\">carbon credits<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> could encourage the reduction in tree cutting. Carbon credits can be used by large industries that cannot reduce their own <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#emissions\" id=\"g-BFC2A7C3-333B-4443-8F12-543E77B5AB87\"><span class=\"c3\">emissions<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\">. These industries pay money to people in other countries to protect forests, thus reducing the overall carbon dioxide in the world. REDD and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#roundtable\" id=\"g-758D5228-1A03-4C68-BFCB-82F3A60865B0\"><span class=\"c3\">RSPO<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> are two different organizations that are helping to create a more sustainable palm oil industry, reduce deforestation, and by extension, save the orangutans. Rainforest reconstruction is an interesting solution that is currently being implemented in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#borneo\" id=\"g-E72D2E19-07F8-4DA8-9A43-10397A62AE26\"><span class=\"c3\">Borneo<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c1\"> by microbiologist Willie Smits.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>9<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Smits bought a former palm oil plantation and is working to restore the land to rainforest. His restoration efforts seem to be working because birds have already returned.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>9<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Smits solution to deforestation demonstrates it is possible to restore the rainforest.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"s2\"><span class=\"c1\">Another potential solution to help palm oil plantations become more sustainable is to increase their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/sciencebites\/back-matter\/glossary\/#crop\" id=\"g-13F22492-F2AD-4588-883E-D174B339F495\"><span class=\"c3\">crop yield<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c3\">s<\/span><span class=\"c1\">.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Crop yields can be increased by planting mature plants instead of seedlings. A mature palm oil plant produces more oil than an immature palm oil plant. If farmers planted crops at maturity, and removed them after the plants reach their peak period, more palm oil would be produced and less land would be needed.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>8<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Consumer pressure would also be beneficial to resolving the palm oil issue.<\/span><span class=\"c5\"><sup>10<\/sup><\/span><span class=\"c1\"> Consumers may demand sustainable sourced palm oil if they realize that palm oil is used in most of the processed foods they eat, and its production is causing harm to the Sumatran rainforest and orangutans. If this occurs, producers would be forced to become sustainable to meet consumer demands.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"s2\">Research has shown that deforestation in Sumatra, Indonesia is a chronic problem that is exacerbated as the worldwide demand for palm oil increases.&nbsp;Orangutans are losing habitat from deforestation to create plantations for palm oil production. By working towards more sustainable palm oil plantations, researching innovative techniques to mitigate deforestation, and by reducing global demand for palm oil, the Sumatran rainforest and orangutans can be saved.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 class=\"s11\">References<\/h4>\n<ol class=\"s12\">\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Gaveau, D.L.A., et al. (2009). The future of forest and orangutans (Pongo abelii) in Sumatra: predicting impacts of oil palm plantations, road construction, and mechanisms for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation. Environmental Research Letters 4, 1-11.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Bradshaw, H. (2013, November 26). Sumatran orangutans: Meeting the refugees of the lost rainforest. BBC News.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Watts, J. (2013, October 14). The devastation of Indonesia\u2019s forests. CNN World.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Pin Koh, L. &amp; Wilcove, D.S. (2007). Cashing in palm oil for conservation. Nature 448, 993-994.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Nantha, H.S. &amp; Tisdell, C. (2009). The orangutan-oil palm conflict: economic constraints and opportunities for conservation. Springer 18, 487-502.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Walsh, B. (2011, March 7). Palm oil plantations equal deforestation. Time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Beukering, P.J.H.,et al. (2003). Economic valuation of the Leuser National Park on Sumatra, Indonesia. Ecological Economics 44, 43-62.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Pin Koh, L., et al. (2011). Remotely sensed evidence of tropical peatland conversion to palm oil. PNAS 1-6. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Little, J.B. (2008). Regrowing Borneo, tree by tree. Scientific American 18, 64-71.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Gilbert, N. (2012). Palm-oil boom raises conservation concerns. Nature 487, 14-15.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Bogor, Java. (2010). Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii). [Photograph]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/doliveck\/4752941079\/in\/photolist-8f14MZ-it5jQc-cD8ziN-gse6eG-qwN7y-gseBHz-gsegxY-gseJ9J-cD8v7w-fJXufj-gseXKP-7UwRDE-gsdENW-5GzJmu-gsfi7z-cXAWR5-aE4e9E-csDQgS-paMTV-9i2dtR-qwN3x-8YUiW3-qdecV-6Wsaup-6WT6Z5-6WT6GJ-pb3YCU-daVK98-daVwBB-ybEct-r2QATF-qKpMka-daVsRe-9y3wep-3c3Crk-daVFre-34cruV-daVQt7-5fpT9x-a5713u-6rB63c-8EbYfK-6Q1HfW-7y9ygz-7y9Hxr-fFZZgu-8v5udx-q5Q4no-58ypao-ekEv8z\"><span class=\"c6\">FlickrCommons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/2.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Anonymous. (2014). [Diagram of World Map]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:BlankMap-World6.svg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">Public Domain.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Schroter, Udo. (2010). [Diagram of Sumatran Orangutan range map]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mapa_distribuicao_pongo_abelii.png\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons.<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/\"><span class=\"c6\">Public Domain.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Hume, Greg. (2012). Sumatran Orangutan. [Photograph]. Retrieved from <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:SUMATRAN_ORANGUTAN.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons.<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-SA 3.0. <\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">oneVilliage Initiative. (2008). Palm oil production in Jakwa Villiage, Ghana. [Photograph]. Retrieved from <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Palm_oil_production_in_Jukwa_Village,_Ghana-04.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">. <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"s13\"><span class=\"c1\">Dragon, Hayden. (2007). Oil Palm Concession in Riau, Samatra. [Photograph]. Retrieved from<\/span><span class=\"c6\"> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Riau_palm_oil_2007.jpg\"><span class=\"c6\">Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/a><span class=\"c6\">.<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/deed.en\"><span class=\"c6\"> CC BY 2.0.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"author":23485,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"false","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[47],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-306","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-standard"],"part":282,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23485"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":500,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/306\/revisions\/500"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/282"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/306\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=306"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=306"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroe-environmentalbiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}