Palm oil - Malaysia - resource consumption and battle for the biosphere

Question 1

Why is Malaysia important?

Answer 1

• 60% of Malaysia is rainforest
• Malaysia has 60% of all known animal species and 80% of all known plant species.
• Malaysia is facing the highest rate of deforestation

Question 2

Why is deforestation occurring in Malaysia?

Answer 2

For cash crop plantations

Question 3

What happens when there is a lack of leaf litter?

Answer 3

The soil layer is destroyed and the soil is vulnerable to leaching

Question 4

What is a “cash crop”?

Answer 4

A cash crop is a crop grown for commercial use

Question 5

What is an ‘Asian Tiger Economy’?

Answer 5

An Asian tiger economy is an economy in south east Asia

Question 6

Why is palm oil extracted?

Answer 6

To replace trans fats in foods which can cause heart disease (following law changes from the EU and USA), and for the processing and making of margarine

Question 7

Give a positive impact of Palm oil extraction?

Answer 7

It is Malaysia’s most valuable crop, annual exports are valued at $27 billion and 15% of country planted with palm, providing jobs to residents which is helping grow Malaysia’s economy

Question 8

Give a negative impact of palm oil extraction?

Answer 8

Javan rhinoceros are now extinct as a consequence, and numbers of Sumatran rhinoceros and orang-utans are falling as they are losing their habitats due to deforestation

Question 9

What solutions are there for these problems?

Answer 9

• Malaysia now has 50% of its rainforest protected from illegal plantations and loggers
• Greenpeace is educating residents on how to develop legal rights over their land.
• Extraction companies are also in the process of developing a new GM strain which allows deforested areas to be replanted quickly, which reduces the impact and speed of deforestation