The story of palm oil

critically endangered<\/a>. Conservationist Dr Jamartin Sihite has been working to protect orangutans for most of his career, and has been CEO of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) since 2011. Under his leadership, BOS has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of orangutans, returning them to their natural habitat in Indonesia\u2019s Central and East Kalimantan. The NGO also works with local communities to raise awareness of the importance of forests and orangutans as an \u201c<a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////www.orangutans.com.au//orangutan-facts///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">umbrella species<\/a>\u201d, and to make sure humans also benefit from its conservation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Around the world, orangutans have come to symbolise the threats posed by the expansion of oil palm, in large part due to their use by western NGOs. In 2008, Greenpeace launched a famous campaign targeting Unilever. It sent climbers dressed as orangutans up the company\u2019s buildings across Europe, and used the ape in parody adverts for Unilever brand Dove. Greenpeace has continued to use the orangutan symbol, as have other NGOs, such as the Rainforest Action Network, who launched a\u00a0<a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////www.ran.org//the-pepsico-campaign-by-the-years///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">campaign<\/a> against PepsiCo\u2019s use of \u201cconflict palm oil\u201d\u00a0in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>These campaigns and the corresponding public outcry have had a significant impact on the palm oil sourcing policies of many companies operating in western markets, including Unilever. However, the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and beyond are still being lost today, due to the complexity of supply chains, the <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//business//certification-fails-to-transform-the-palm-oil-industry-what-next///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weaknesses<\/a> of sustainability standards and the presence of massive markets with little awareness of the problems palm oil causes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//from-palm-to-plate-tracing-sustainable-palm-oil-along-the-supply-chain///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">From palm to plate<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false},{"map_cd_layout":true,"title":"Meet Johny Kamuru","position":{"top":"40%","left":"74%"},"background_image":false,"audio":false,"cd_image":{"ID":107431,"id":107431,"title":"20230714_Story of palm oil map_Potrait 4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue","filename":"20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","filesize":882532,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","link":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/en\/food\/the-story-of-palm-oil\/attachment\/attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-4_luisarivera_chinadialogue\/","alt":"Illustration of a Moi politician in West Papua","author":"1072","description":"","caption":"Johny Kamuru, local leader, West Papua","name":"attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-4_luisarivera_chinadialogue","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":107400,"date":"2023-07-17 13:32:42","modified":"2023-07-17 13:34:10","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/cms\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1024x682.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"cd_desktop_xxlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2400x1599.jpg","cd_desktop_xxlarge-width":2400,"cd_desktop_xxlarge-height":1599,"cd_desktop_xlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1800x1200.jpg","cd_desktop_xlarge-width":1800,"cd_desktop_xlarge-height":1200,"cd_desktop_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1400x933.jpg","cd_desktop_large-width":1400,"cd_desktop_large-height":933,"cd_mobile_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-750x500.jpg","cd_mobile_large-width":750,"cd_mobile_large-height":500,"cd_mobile_small":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133247\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-4_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-375x250.jpg","cd_mobile_small-width":375,"cd_mobile_small-height":250}},"cd_content":"<p>The expansion of oil palm plantations has often had a devastating impact on Indigenous peoples, displacing them from their forest homes and damaging their livelihoods and cultural heritages. One core reason for this is disregard for the customary land use rights of Indigenous groups in many parts of Southeast Asia, West Africa and Latin America \u2013 meaning development takes place without proper consultation or consent.<\/p>\n<p>In Indonesia\u2019s West Papua, members of the Moi people in Sorong regency have been resisting oil palm plantations for over a decade. They are keen to protect their forests, as a vital source not just of food but also of identity. In 2021, their struggle reached the courts after Johny Kamuru, a Moi politician and head of Sorong at the time, revoked the business permits of four oil palm companies for violating the terms. Three of the companies responded by suing Johny and his fellow officials, resulting in a series of hearings at various levels of the Indonesian court system.<\/p>\n<p>This legal battle highlights wider efforts by the Moi and other Indigenous groups in Indonesia to have their territories officially recognised at the national level, giving them the right to manage the land themselves. The first step towards this is mapping the area owned by the tribe \u2013 a long, difficult and expensive process for which there is very little support. Thanks to Johny\u2019s leadership, some Moi lands have now been mapped and recognised at the local level in Sorong. But this has not yet made it to the national land registry. In fact, just <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////www.brwa.or.id//stats/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3.5% of the land mapped<\/a> by Indigenous groups in Indonesia has been officially recognised by the central government.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//the-moi-struggle-for-land-rights///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Moi struggle for land rights<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false},{"map_cd_layout":true,"title":"Meet RK Srividya","position":{"top":"52%","left":"50%"},"background_image":false,"audio":false,"cd_image":{"ID":107433,"id":107433,"title":"20230714_Story of palm oil map_Potrait 5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue","filename":"20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","filesize":742235,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","link":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/en\/food\/the-story-of-palm-oil\/attachment\/attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-5_luisarivera_chinadialogue\/","alt":"Illustration of a woman shopping in a grocery store","author":"1072","description":"","caption":"RK Srividya, journalist, India","name":"attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-5_luisarivera_chinadialogue","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":107400,"date":"2023-07-17 13:32:50","modified":"2023-07-17 13:34:27","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/cms\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1024x682.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"cd_desktop_xxlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2400x1599.jpg","cd_desktop_xxlarge-width":2400,"cd_desktop_xxlarge-height":1599,"cd_desktop_xlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1800x1200.jpg","cd_desktop_xlarge-width":1800,"cd_desktop_xlarge-height":1200,"cd_desktop_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1400x933.jpg","cd_desktop_large-width":1400,"cd_desktop_large-height":933,"cd_mobile_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-750x500.jpg","cd_mobile_large-width":750,"cd_mobile_large-height":500,"cd_mobile_small":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133258\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-5_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-375x250.jpg","cd_mobile_small-width":375,"cd_mobile_small-height":250}},"cd_content":"<p>Palm oil has become deeply embedded in our modern lives. In many countries, it\u2019s a common cooking oil, used by both households and the catering industry. It\u2019s listed as an ingredient in a wide range of consumer products, including unexpected things like ice cream, where it increases the melting point and creates a thicker, creamier consistency. Less obvious are palm oil\u2019s <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//breaking-down-palm-oil///">numerous derivatives<\/a>, which can be found in everything from toothpaste and pharmaceuticals to paints and biofuels.<\/p>\n<p>To meet this high demand, the world currently produces around 77 million tonnes of palm oil a year. More than three-quarters of this comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, with India and China importing the largest amounts. India brings in around 8 million tonnes every year, which accounts for around 40% of its <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//business//long-road-ahead-for-ethical-palm-oil-in-booming-indian-market///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vegetable oil consumption<\/a>. Despite this, many <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//what-do-young-people-in-india-think-of-palm-oil///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian consumers<\/a> have never even heard of palm oil, let alone the problems it has caused.<\/p>\n<p>RK Srividya is a young journalist from Chennai in southern India. Despite being relatively well informed about palm oil, she was shocked to discover how many products in her weekly shopping basket contained it. Although she cares about the environment, she says she\u2019s unlikely to seek out alternative products that either use sustainably produced palm oil or are palm oil free . She\u2019s cynical about the green claims made by big companies, and like many other consumers, she\u2019s price sensitive. Palm oil is cheap \u2013 that\u2019s one of the reasons it\u2019s used so widely \u2013 and in less affluent markets like India, paying more for sustainable palm oil is a major barrier.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//palm-oil-frontiers-hidden-in-plain-sight///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hidden in plain sight<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false},{"map_cd_layout":true,"title":"Meet Fang Lifeng","position":{"top":"61%","left":"81%"},"background_image":false,"audio":false,"cd_image":{"ID":107435,"id":107435,"title":"20230714_Story of palm oil map_Potrait 6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue","filename":"20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","filesize":515859,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","link":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/en\/food\/the-story-of-palm-oil\/attachment\/attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-6_luisarivera_chinadialogue\/","alt":"Illustration of a man giving a speach about palm oil","author":"1072","description":"","caption":"Fang Lifeng, RSPO Head of China","name":"attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-6_luisarivera_chinadialogue","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":107400,"date":"2023-07-17 13:33:02","modified":"2023-07-17 13:34:44","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/cms\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1024x682.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"cd_desktop_xxlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2400x1599.jpg","cd_desktop_xxlarge-width":2400,"cd_desktop_xxlarge-height":1599,"cd_desktop_xlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1800x1200.jpg","cd_desktop_xlarge-width":1800,"cd_desktop_xlarge-height":1200,"cd_desktop_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1400x933.jpg","cd_desktop_large-width":1400,"cd_desktop_large-height":933,"cd_mobile_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-750x500.jpg","cd_mobile_large-width":750,"cd_mobile_large-height":500,"cd_mobile_small":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133307\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-6_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-375x250.jpg","cd_mobile_small-width":375,"cd_mobile_small-height":250}},"cd_content":"<p>Although awareness of palm oil and its issues is low in major markets like India and China, growing concern in the more affluent west has led some businesses and consumers there to boycott the commodity. The oil\u2019s ubiquity makes it hard to avoid, however. As such, most serious efforts to address palm oil\u2019s problems have concentrated on making its production more sustainable.<\/p>\n<p>The RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), founded in 2004 by leading industry actors and WWF, has been central to these efforts. Its work to promote sustainable practices centres on a set of standards aiming to protect the environment, human rights and worker safety wherever oil palm is grown. It encourages producers to gain certification that proves they are following these standards. And it also works with buyers to promote the uptake of the resulting certified palm oil.<\/p>\n<p>While it is widely agreed that standards are a good thing, so far only 19% of the world\u2019s palm oil is RSPO-certified, a share that has stagnated in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is the existence of large \u201cleakage\u201d markets where there is very low demand for sustainable palm oil. These markets include the two largest importers: India and China.<\/p>\n<p>As Head of China for the RSPO, Fang Lifeng is trying to change this. China imports around 7 million tonnes of palm oil every year. So far, less than 10% of this is RSPO-certified. To increase demand, one thing the organisation has been doing is working to raise consumer awareness of the issues around palm oil. But Fang believes a more efficient tactic is to concentrate on the companies that buy the commodity. In 2018, <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//sustainable-palm-oil-seeks-breakthrough-in-china///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">89% of China\u2019s palm oil imports<\/a> were bought by only 16 companies, and 53% by only five of them. Many of these companies are becoming increasingly aware of the risks associated with unsustainable palm oil, both reputationally and in relation to supply chain resilience. This makes it easier to persuade them to buy from sustainable sources. And once they\u2019ve made that switch, Fang says increased consumer awareness will naturally follow, as companies will no doubt want to use their green credentials to promote their products.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//improving-palm-oil-awareness-in-china///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Improving palm oil awareness in China<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false},{"map_cd_layout":true,"title":"Meet Azina Ap Dongkin","position":{"top":"66%","left":"18%"},"background_image":false,"audio":false,"cd_image":{"ID":107437,"id":107437,"title":"20230714_Story of palm oil map_Potrait 7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue","filename":"20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","filesize":848462,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","link":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/en\/food\/the-story-of-palm-oil\/attachment\/attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-7_luisarivera_chinadialogue\/","alt":"Illustration of an oil palm farmer","author":"1072","description":"","caption":"Azina Ap Dongkin, smallholder, Peninsular Malaysia ","name":"attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-7_luisarivera_chinadialogue","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":107400,"date":"2023-07-17 13:33:10","modified":"2023-07-17 13:35:01","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/cms\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1024x682.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"cd_desktop_xxlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2400x1599.jpg","cd_desktop_xxlarge-width":2400,"cd_desktop_xxlarge-height":1599,"cd_desktop_xlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1800x1200.jpg","cd_desktop_xlarge-width":1800,"cd_desktop_xlarge-height":1200,"cd_desktop_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1400x933.jpg","cd_desktop_large-width":1400,"cd_desktop_large-height":933,"cd_mobile_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-750x500.jpg","cd_mobile_large-width":750,"cd_mobile_large-height":500,"cd_mobile_small":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133315\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-7_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-375x250.jpg","cd_mobile_small-width":375,"cd_mobile_small-height":250}},"cd_content":"<p>Although the expansion of oil palm plantations has been devastating for some Indigenous groups, others have been able to benefit from the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Azina Ap Dongkin and her family are small-scale farmers. They belong to the Orang Asli, a collective term for Indigenous groups known as the \u201cfirst people\u201d of Peninsular Malaysia. The area in which they live in the state of Perak was particularly impacted by tin mining and the cultivation of rubber trees in the early 20th century. With the original forests long gone, the Dongkin family now rely on oil palm cultivation to <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////twitter.com//chinadialogue//status//1603091585389953026/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a living<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Smallholders like Dongkin, each farming on less than 50 hectares of land, produce around 40% of the world\u2019s palm oil. As such, they have an important role to play in ensuring a sustainable future for the palm oil industry. Although many use less-intensive techniques than those employed on large-scale plantations, they face several challenges. With limits on both their finances and their access to information, they are less likely to learn about and invest in new techniques that might make their farms more sustainable. Gaining access to premium markets through sustainable certification, which may improve their lot, can also seem impossibly difficult and expensive.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these challenges, the flexibility of small, family-run entities means it can be easier for them to make changes and farm in more sustainable ways. But to make a go of things, smallholders need support. Some of this is being supplied by the RSPO, which brought in\u00a0a more achievable set of <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//opinion-why-smallholders-are-key-to-sustainable-food-systems///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">standards for smallholders<\/a>\u00a0at the end of 2019, as well as funding and a training academy. Additional support is coming from organisations like Malaysian social enterprise Wild Asia. Dongkin\u2019s family have partnered with Wild Asia to adopt regenerative, organic farming practices, such as use of natural fertilisers and pesticides, and growing other crops among their oil palms, like lime, chilli, banana and pineapple. They feel the partnership has not only improved their practices and yields, but also helped build their confidence as farmers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//food//can-regenerative-agriculture-transform-palm-oil///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can regenerative agriculture transform palm oil?<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false},{"map_cd_layout":true,"title":"Meet Maz Jumail","position":{"top":"82%","left":"60%"},"background_image":false,"audio":false,"cd_image":{"ID":107439,"id":107439,"title":"20230714_Story of palm oil map_Potrait 8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue","filename":"20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","filesize":724950,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue.jpg","link":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/en\/food\/the-story-of-palm-oil\/attachment\/attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-8_luisarivera_chinadialogue\/","alt":"Illustration of a scientist doing research in a reforested area in Malaysia","author":"1072","description":"","caption":"Maz Jumail, scientist, Sabah, Malaysia","name":"attachment-20230714_story-of-palm-oil-map_potrait-8_luisarivera_chinadialogue","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":107400,"date":"2023-07-17 13:33:18","modified":"2023-07-17 13:35:21","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/chinadialogue.net\/cms\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1706,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1024x682.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2048x1365.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"cd_desktop_xxlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-2400x1599.jpg","cd_desktop_xxlarge-width":2400,"cd_desktop_xxlarge-height":1599,"cd_desktop_xlarge":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1800x1200.jpg","cd_desktop_xlarge-width":1800,"cd_desktop_xlarge-height":1200,"cd_desktop_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-1400x933.jpg","cd_desktop_large-width":1400,"cd_desktop_large-height":933,"cd_mobile_large":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-750x500.jpg","cd_mobile_large-width":750,"cd_mobile_large-height":500,"cd_mobile_small":"https:\/\/cdn.chinadialogue.net\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/17133323\/20230714_Story-of-palm-oil-map_Potrait-8_LuisaRivera_ChinaDialogue-375x250.jpg","cd_mobile_small-width":375,"cd_mobile_small-height":250}},"cd_content":"<p>Despite palm oil\u2019s destructive past, there are rays of hope for Southeast Asia\u2019s embattled forests. Over the past decade, land clearance for oil palm has been <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//climate//how-can-palm-oil-reach-net-zero///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slowing<\/a> in both Indonesia and Malaysia. And increasingly, efforts are being made to restore degraded landscapes by regrowing forest and encouraging wildlife to return.<\/p>\n<p>Amaziasizamoria Jumail, better known as Maz, is project manager at Regrow Borneo, an initiative aiming to rehabilitate rainforest around the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Malaysia. The Kinabatangan runs for 560km through diverse habitats on the island of Borneo and is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including the endangered Bornean orangutan and pygmy elephant. These habitats have suffered decades of damage from logging for timber and oil palm plantations.<\/p>\n<p>Maz and her team work with local communities to plant native trees in degraded areas. They aim to boost biodiversity by linking up fragmented habitats and to help combat climate change through carbon capture. So far, they have rehabilitated around 18 hectares of forest, and aim to restore a further 12 hectares every year. \u201cOur approach is not merely to sequester carbon, but to plant trees in ways that improve the livelihood of local communities, as well as enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience,\u201d explains Maz.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find out more:<\/strong> <a href=https://chinadialogue.net/"https:////chinadialogue.net//en//nature//regrowing-borneos-precious-rainforests///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Regrowing Borneo\u2019s precious rainforests<\/a><\/p>\n","items":false}]}">