Malaysia's Conservation Efforts Highlighting a Shift Towards Sustainable Palm Oil Production
GHRTV
09-07-2023
Claudia Pilli
Global Human Rights Defence
Palm oil is one of the major causes of global warming because of its impact in implementing deforestation. According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, 85% of the world's palm oil production comes from Malaysia and Indonesia.
In the past month the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, is owned by a palm oil company and houses around 200 proboscis monkeys. The sanctuary has started taking conservation efforts more seriously by acquiring additional land from a neighboring unproductive palm oil plantation and planting mangrove saplings to extend the monkeys' habitat. This initiative aims to create a wildlife corridor and protect the plantation from floods. This shows there is a growing recognition that palm oil production must be made more sustainable, and agribusinesses are becoming more involved in conservation efforts.
In conclusion, while palm oil production has been linked to deforestation and global warming, there are signs of change within the industry. The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary's efforts to expand the monkeys' habitat and create a wildlife corridor demonstrate a shift towards more sustainable practices.
Sources and further readings:
https://www.theborneopost.com/2023/03/11/challenges-issues-facing-palm-oil-industry-in-sabah/
