Penang water authority urges Kedah to ban logging in Ulu Muda forest to protect water supply
The Kedah government must protect the rainforest in the greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex by banning all logging works there, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said today.The Malay Mail , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, Timber, Illegal logging
Study examines forest loss in Mekong region
Dramatic forest degradation and loss in the Greater Mekong region have both their causes and potential solutions rooted in forest governance, according to a recent publication by researchers from the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), the University of British Columbia, and WWF.Asia Times , 16 May 2019
Asia, Timber, Illegal logging
Liberia: Solidaridad Launches West African Oil Palm Program
Solidaridad West Africa has launched a 3,821, 619 euros Sustainable West Africa Oil Palm Program (SWAPP) in Liberia as part of promoting sustainable oil palm and improving food security in Liberia., 16 May 2019
Liberia, Palm Oil, Front Page Africa
Malaysia asks for UK's help in palm oil row with EU
The EU is endangering around 35,000 British jobs and £150m in exports by ploughing ahead with a ban on palm oil, Malaysia has warned.Telegraph, 16 May 2019
Malaysia, Europe, Palm Oil, EU
Manufacturing Consent: How Palm Oil Companies Evict
This film by Indonesia Nature Film Society (INFIS) compiles evidence and testimonies of the Dayak tribe from Muara Tae in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, where a palm oil company is grabbing their indigenous land. Members of the clan described evictions without compensation which was organised by PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya (PT Borneo).Engage Media , 15 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia
Setback for EU fighter jets as Malaysia bets on palm oil barter
Hamstrung by huge public debt, Malaysia is planning to use palm oil to buy military equipment, including fighter jets. European defense companies may not be enthused about Kuala Lumpur's latest attempt at barter trade.DW, 15 May 2019
Europe, Palm Oil, EU
Four development projects receive 37 million euros funding
The funding will further help in financing the joint collaboration project on "Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in Indonesia" to recognize alternative sources of income to timber and palm oil for smallholders that are both domestically and internationally profitable and that can avert further deforestation in Indonesia.Antara News , 15 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, deforestation
Nigeria losses $500 million annually to importation, illegal smuggling of Palm oil
The National Palm produce association of Nigeria says the importation and illegal smuggling of Palm oil is making local producers lose 500 million dollars annually.TVC News , 15 May 2019
Nigeria, Malaysia, Palm Oil, africa
Peru Promises to be Blunt Against Deforestation
Deforestation in Peru has been consistently growing throughout the years and, according to official data, more than 1,500 square kilometers of forests have been destroyed only in 2017, El País said.Living in Peru , 15 May 2019
Peru, Timber, forest
Germany won't ban Malaysian palm oil
The German Ambassador to Malaysia Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff has assured that his country will not ban palm oil trade from Malaysia.New Straits Times , 14 May 2019
Germany, Palm Oil, Germany
In Spite of Environmental Concerns, Europe Continues to Buy Brazilian Beef
A new report reveals the major European supermarkets that are potentially fueling illegal deforestation when they support the Brazilian cattle industry.Pacific Standard , 14 May 2019
Europe, Beef, europe
Species extinction, climate change research gets radical, and replanting a 2 million tree rainforest
A recent paper published in Ecology and Evolution found that second generation oil palm plantations support 20 percent less diversity of invertebrates and 59 percent fewer animals than the first. Oil palm plantations have a profitable lifespan of only 25 years and the paper’s authors conclude that ‘long-term production of palm oil comes at a higher cost than previously thought’.Forest News , 14 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia
New NGO report highlights APP's continued involvement in deforestation despite its zero deforestation commitment
A group of NGOs under the Anti Forest Mafia Coalition, including WWF-Indonesia, has published a joint report highlighting that Sinar Mas Group’s Asia Pulp & Paper (SMG/APP) continues to be involved in deforestation, peatland destruction and fires even after committing to zero deforestation in 2013.WWF, 14 May 2019
Indonesia, Timber, deforestation
UOB funds Malaysia company that is said to be destroying Mulu rainforest for palm oil plantations; indigenous communities plea to stop the move as it’s their land.
In a move to cater the needs for Western consumers, Mulu Rainforest in Sarawak is being destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations, and this project is funded by Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB).The Online Citizen , 14 May 2019
Malaysia, Palm Oil, Indigenous People
Forest Commission says report on forest cover loss inaccurate
The Forestry Commission has described as inacurate a report by the World Resource Institute (WRI) claiming that Ghana witnessed a 60 per cent change in forest cover loss between 2017 and 2018.Ghana News Agency , 14 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, forest
M’sia to continue working with Indonesia to defend palm oil
Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to defend palm oil which is under sabotage by lobbyists in Europe, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking.The Star , 14 May 2019
Malaysia, Indonesia, Europe, Palm Oil, EU ban
Court rejects Helena Huang’s surety’s appeal for time to find suspect
Savannah Regional Minister, Salifu Adam Braimah ordered the closure of Brivywell Company, the timber firm owned by Helena Huang.Ghana Web , 13 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade
Jakarta Globe reports: EU Visit to Oil Palm Plantation in Riau Eases Tensions
Eight EU representatives from Belgium, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Hungary, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and a representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization, visited an Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil-certified oil palm plantation in Riau on Thursday.Jakarta Globe , 13 May 2019
Europe, Indonesia, Palm Oil, EU
Fears over rising violence in Amazon as 'forest guardians' battle logging
Following traditional rituals, indigenous chief Olimpio Santos Guajajara paints his face with red dye from urucum seeds as he prepares to go on patrol to protect Brazil’s Amazon rainforestReuters, 13 May 2019
Brazil, Beef, Brazil
Indonesia is not serious about resolving human rights violations in palm oil plantations
Human rights violations are all too common in the palm oil sector, from approproating local communities' land to unfair working conditions, child labour, violence, rape and other crimes.Environmental Investigation Agency , 13 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, labour
Bolsonaro’s plan to unlock the Amazon: split its indigenous peoples
Congress is blocking Brazil’s leader from expanding farming on indigenous lands, now he is making alliances with some traditional landowners.Climate Home News , 13 May 2019
Brazil, Beef, Brazil
WEF, Colombian Government Announce Low-Carbon Investment Fund, Anti-Deforestation Commitment
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Tropical Forest Alliance annual meeting just concluded in Bogotá, Colombia, and the WEF has announced a number of commitments that will contribute to the Alliance’s goal of protecting the world’s tropical rainforests.Finance Colombia, 13 May 2019
Colombia, Timber, tropical forest
Returning Felda to its glory days. Sixty-Three years ago, second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein set up Felda to eradicate poverty among Malay settlers by giving them govt land to work on
Once a multibillion-ringgit company, Felda is now burdened with a debt of RM10.2 billion accumulated over the last 10 years. Its new director-general, Datuk Dr Othman Omar, has a mammoth task.New Straits Times , 13 May 2019
Malaysia, Palm Oil, Malaysia
Pay up, or they give up
The row over the palm oil industry and the detrimental effects it has on the environment has intensified in recent weeks, fired up by the European Union’s plan to curb the use of palm oil in biofuels. Significantly, biofuels only emerged in the last decade or so as another use for palm oil as the world looked for renewable sources of energy.The Edge Markets , 13 May 2019
Europe, Palm Oil, EU
Fight EU Ban and Critism, Indonesia to Establish Palm Oil Map
Indonesia to establish palm oil one map, to harmonize land data and to respond public criticism. The map is expected to be completed in August, said government official last week.The Insider Stories , 13 May 2019
Indonesia, Europe, Palm Oil, indonesia