Abacus and Sword

The average European has never been as responsible for the devastation of tropical rainforests as they are today. What is causing it, and can we prevent it? "The Green Desert" reveals the shocking reality behind the palm oil industry. Borneo and Sumatra are two of the most biologically diverse areas in the world and yet have one of the longest lists of endangered species, including the peaceful orangutan. It is estimated that 6 to 12 of these orangutans are killed every day due to palm oil production. These gentle creatures are either killed in the process of deforestation when they venture into palm oil plantations in search of food or in the illegal animal trade after being captured and kept in extremely poor conditions. Approximately 50 million tons of palm oil are produced annually, almost all of which is an irreplaceable resource, responsible for replacing 12 million hectares of dense, biodiverse rainforest. That's equivalent to an area the size of North Korea being deforested every year solely for palm oil production. —Hayduke