Sustainable Palm Oil Cultivation and Climate Change

Concerns has been raised over the ability of palm oil, rapeseed, soybean, sugarcane, corn and other vegetable oil sources to fulfill the demands of both the traditional and renewable fuel sectors in a sustainable manner. They also doubt that, in the quest for greater agriculture output, if there is definite greenhouse gas benefits along the entire life cycle of the raw material.

They have also come under fervent criticisms from environmentalists. Environmentalist are concerned that these feedstock producing countries carry out unsustainable cultivation practices, destroying rainforests and peat-lands. This has reduced biodiversity, threatens populations of rare animals such as orangutans, elephants, rhinoceros and clouded leopards. Such practices have also stressed soil and water

		securities, created land ownership conflicts, increased vulnerability to catastrophic fires, and affected local communities dependent on services and products provided by forest ecosystems. Indonesia has long been known for its extensive logging and plantation clearing. Rain forests fall fastest in Indonesia than anywhere else on earth.
(Pic: Orangutan in Rainforests of Malaysia)				Activists dressed as orangutans to protest against deforestation

In addition forest burning that emits excessive carbon dioxide greatly undermines the true incentive behind biofuel production.

European countries, until recently, have been strong proponents of increased biofuel use. The European Commission has a goal of generating 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020, up from the current 8.5%.

With recent doubt on biofuels made from crops as a way to fight climate change, it seeks to adopt a more cautious approach and slow down the introduction of biofuels, until the evidence is clearer on environmental and social effects of biofuels.

The European Commission in mid 2008, proposed a revision to its earlier goal of generating 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020, such that the 20% of renewable transport fuels would have to come from feed stocks, like algae, that do not compete with food for cropland.

The EU also imposes a regulation to establish 'sustainability and environment' standards for biofuels, to be finalized by 2010. It requires feedstock producing countries to comply to full cycle assessment on carbon dioxide emissions reduction by at least 35% in comparison to fossil fuels. This will have an impact on the import and export trades of palm oil and other vegetable oil.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil ( RSPO ) was set up in 2007 to act as a governing body to ensure compliance in sustainability along the entire line of production and supply. RSPO's mission is to provide certified sustainable palm to the world market in a clear and transparent manner.

Rainforest is one of the Earth's most treasured natural wonders. The United Nations has endorsed a plan that would compensate countries for protecting their forests, which sequester carbon dioxide. Under a scheme called Reduced Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD), developing nations that conserve their forests will be rewarded with financial returns through carbon credit awards. Many environmentalists hope the plan will be included in a new global pact at the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009, in an effort to to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In Malaysia, the government has all along practiced well-planned sustainable production. Instead of forest clearing for oil palm cultivation, there is switch of other crops like rubber, cocoa and coconut to oil palm as shown:

Major perennial tree crops in Malaysia over the last two decades 1990-2000 (in million ha)

Decades	Oil palm	Rubber	Cocoa	Coconut	Total
1990	1.980	1.823	0.416	0.315	4.534
2000	3.377	1.430	0.078	0.108	4.993
Difference	+1.397	-0.393	-0.338	-0.207	+0.459

In 1990, the Government of Malaysia had decreed that no primary forests are to be converted to plantations except for logged-over forests and that also with permission from the respective State governments.

Since 2000 about 27,000 ha of the flood plain of Kinabatanganan, which has rich and abundant biodiversity of flora and fauna, have been gazetted as Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary under the Land Ordinance.


Malaysia Rhino			Hornbill		Rafflesia

The Lower Kinabatangan floodplain is Sabah's most impressive natural ecosystem and is a natural habitat not only of orangutans, but also that of pygmy elephants, Proboscis monkeys, gibbons, rhinos and hornbill birds.

Several features of an oil palm plantation mimic those of a natural rainforest. Mature oil palms provide continuous and dense canopy cover while recycling nutrients and organic matter within the ecosystem. Little or no tillage is involved in oil palm cultivation. This minimizes the oxidation process and loss of organic matters. The canopy helps to minimize soil erosion impact due to torrential rain not uncommon in the tropical regions. It also acts as an 'air conditioner' in increasing humidity and reducing temperatures within the plantation. All factors provide a favorable microclimate for oil palm plantation habitat.

Picture shows an oil palm plantation with closed canopy that mimics a tropical rainforest, in carbon dioxide balance and carbon fixation, accumulates 100-120 tonnes of biomass per hectare by maturity.

To reduce soil erosion and water runoff, terracing of hilly areas, construction of drains and preservation of water catchment areas, use of silt pits and front cut across slopes are engaged.

For soil and water conservations, minimum usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are practiced with the supplementary use of empty fruit bunch ( EFB ) and palm oil mill effluent ( POME ) as nutrient sources in the plantation. In the implementation of integrated pest management, beneficial plants, such as Cassia cobanensis and Euphorbia heterophylla, are planted as sources of nectar for parasitoids to keep populations of oil palm insect pests in balance with nature ( Basri and Norman, 2000 ). This has led to a reduction in the use of insecticides for bagworm and nettle caterpillar control.

Utilization of the entire waste biomass of oil palm as feedstock for power generation within the plantation; and as feedstock in the production of renewable energy, cellulosic ethanol, biogas, bio-hydrogen and bio-plastic, has increased the feasibility of the plantation industry. Most importantly, it has greatly reduced the carbon dioxide emissions into the environment.

Formerly, the EFB are left decay naturally at the dumpsite and POME is treated anaerobically in the open ponds. Both processes generate methane. The co-composting of EFB and POME has avoided the emission of methane generation from landfill and open ponds by aerobic treatment of EFB and POME

Malaysian palm oil industry practices an advanced form of sustainable agriculture to ensure environmental conservation and has been instrumentally in the forefront in bringing the roundtable discussions on sustainable palm oil ( RSPO ) to a successful conclusion.

References and related news:

EU's New Law May Hurt Palm Oil Exporters: Biz.thestar Mar 05, 2009
Palm Oil Nutritional Facts: MPOB.gov.Malaysia
The Unjustified Health Care on Palm Oil: MPOB.gov.my
Once a Dream Fuel. Palm Oil May Be an Eco-Nightmare
The Social Impact of Oil Palm in Borneo: Mongabay.com June 2008
RSPO.org
Oil Palm Environment: Etawau.com

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