Introduction
The wave of globalization has transformed the way human beings consume different materials and produce products that are marketed hundreds of miles away. The increasing demand for energy, food, bio-fuels, and tropical wood has affected the global environment. In southeast Asia, different forces and factors are currently driving the process of deforestation. The discussion presented below examines this problem from different perspectives, some of the possible causes, and proposes evidence-based solutions to transform the situation.
Deforestation and Driving Forces
Palm oil is currently supporting economic growth in different parts of South East Asia. However, many people and corporations have engaged in constant deforestation of the natural environment to acquire land for producing it. The demand for palm oil and its use as a bio-fuel means that more farmers and companies will be keen to maximize production. These aspects show conclusively that palm oil production is the primary force that is driving deforestation in the region (Wright et al., 2019). The participants involved or those who are taking it to the next level include companies that rely on the product, farmers who want to transform their livelihoods, and corporations that have been investing in plant-based oil.
The need for companies to minimize carbon emissions has triggered an increasing demand for bio-oil. Most of the involved organizations and producers have partnered to maximize output. Different farmers have appreciated the benefits and rewards associated with palm oil since it requires little land, chemicals, and management. Additionally, many citizens in the region have been facing poverty and inequality over the years. The demand for palm oil has encouraged them to maximize production and transform their life experiences (Siregar & Tan, 2019). The region has also capitalized on the existing climatic conditions to grow the plant and increase its bargaining power in the globalizing world. These descriptions reveal that economies, culture, and politics have a role to play regarding the expansion of palm oil fields and the increasing level of deforestation.
These forces are both local and global since they attract SE Asians as key stakeholders while influencing economic performance in different parts of the world. Locally, many citizens, government officials, and environmentalists have been involved to strike a balance between palm oil production and deforestation (Villadiego, 2018). Similarly, international corporations, policymakers, and environmentalists are involved to minimize greenhouse gases emissions at the global level. The international community is also considering how different stakeholders can address the problem of deforestation.
Impacts of Palm Oil Deforestation
Palm oil deforestation has emerged as a major challenge that has numerous negative impacts that can affect local societies. First, this problem is encouraging more partners, farmers, and companies to deforest more land to cultivate palm oil. Such malpractice has affected the integrity of the natural environment and the ecological system (Martinko, 2018). Second, increased levels of palm oil deforestation have disoriented or changed the climatic patterns of such regions. These developments have triggered new conditions characterized by extreme temperatures.
This deforestation triggered by palm oil farming has affected the global society in various ways. First, the process of climate change affects different regions across the world due to changing rain patterns. Second, palm oil is becoming a common product cultivated in various continents (May-Tobin, 2014). Latin America has been considering such a practice as a way to improve economic performance and support people’s lives. Third, the produced oil is eventually used in industries and automobiles across the globe (“About,” n.d.). Such a development creates a new scenario whereby many countries record increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Similarly, palm oil deforestation is becoming malpractice that has significant impacts on many people. For instance, some individuals are displaced from their regions to pave way for agricultural activities. They also find it hard to live in unpolluted and healthy environments. The trends associated with palm oil production have affected many children negatively since they are required to provide cheap labor (Gies, 2014). Such individuals find it hard to complete their studies successfully. Consequently, the cycle of poverty remains a major challenge in SE Asia. The environment has also been affected negatively due to the loss of fauna and flora. Its integrity becomes obliterated, thereby being unable to support the lives of different creatures, such as wildlife and domesticated animals.
Possible Solutions
The above problem has the potential to affect the integrity of the global environment and worsen the experiences of many people across the globe. I believe that various solutions are possible to solve this challenge. First, sustainable palm oil production processes are needed whereby different stakeholders consider new ways of conserving forestlands while at the same time maximizing the production of palm oil (“Our global goals,” n.d.). Second, individuals can consider the importance of agro-forestry and combine the trees with native ones in different parts of SE Asia to reduce the current challenge of deforestation (Johnson, 2014). This approach will ensure that more people do not destroy their surrounding environments to achieve their potential.
Third, different stakeholders can collaborate to sensitize farmers and encourage them to focus on high-priority landscapes to promote cultivation processes that are sustainable. Fourth, the international community can join hands to deliver better production systems and reduce the level of deforestation. Fifthly, the consideration of research and development (R&D) can become a new opportunity to find better alternatives to palm oil that do not pollute the environment or trigger increased levels of deforestation.
In the recent past, some stakeholders have been considering various efforts to deal with this challenge. For example, the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has been engaging in advocacy to provide advice to local farmers and promote sustainable practices (“The search for sustainable,” 2019). In Indonesia, some district governments have promoted participatory plans to promote farmland management and improve the sustainability of the available forests (“The search for sustainable,” 2019). Different agencies and industries relying on palm oil have introduced additional deforestation policies that compel farmers and producers to protest the surrounding environment and ensure that their practices are sustainable (Johnson, 2014). Some professionals have gone further to propose better alternatives to palm oil that do not threaten the integrity of the natural environment.
Conclusion
Palm oil deforestation remains a major challenge that affects both local citizens and global stakeholders. This problem continues to threaten the integrity of forests in SE Asia. The solutions outlined above are essential and capable of transforming the situation and improving the experiences of both capitalists and farmers at the international level. The concept of R&D is, therefore, needed to provide superior measures that can minimize the negative implications of palm oil, promote sustainability, and ensure that more people are able to achieve their economic aims.
References
About. (n.d.). 2020, Web.
Gies, E. (2014). Greenpeace report on P&G’s palm oil sources could spur industry change. The Guardian. Web.
Johnson, N. (2014). Cargill promises to get right with palm oil. Grist. Web.
Martinko, K. (2018). Welcome to Hondupalma, the world’s first sustainable certified palm oil cooperative! Tree Hugger. Web.
May-Tobin, C. (2014). Palm oil, deforestation, and the fast food industry: Would you like a side of forests with that? One Green Planet. Web.
Our global goals. (n.d.). Web.
The search for sustainable palm oil. (2019). Web.
Siregar, K., & Tan, V. (2019). Southeast Asia’s palm oil industry touts sustainability narrative, but activists cast doubts. Channel News Asia. Web.
Villadiego, L. (2018). Palm oil is cheap, but it’s also an eco-disaster. This Week in Asia. Web.
Wright, R., Watson, I., Booth, T., & Jamaluddin, M. (2019). Borneo is burning: How the world’s demand for palm oil is driving deforestation in Indonesia. CNN. Web.