Indonesia is the world’s biggest producer of palm oil, an industry
which has been sharply criticised for destroying rain forests and
wildlife. According to Reuters, the country hopes to open up 6 million
hectares of forest in the province of Papua, which comprises a
majority part of the western half of the island of New Guinea, to the
palm oil industry. The report comes despite Indonesia’s earlier
pledges to protect its forests with international carbon trading
projects.
which has been sharply criticised for destroying rain forests and
wildlife. According to Reuters, the country hopes to open up 6 million
hectares of forest in the province of Papua, which comprises a
majority part of the western half of the island of New Guinea, to the
palm oil industry. The report comes despite Indonesia’s earlier
pledges to protect its forests with international carbon trading
projects.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports
that Indonesia has the fastest deforestation rate in the world, at
almost 1.9 million hectares per year.
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