The global demand for palm oil — the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, in everything from instant noodles to lipstick — is driving worldwide tropical deforestation. While many studies have shown the loss of biodiversity when rainforests are converted to oil palm plantations, researchers have now shown the far-reaching and wide-ranging disturbances to the watersheds in which such plantations occur.
The global demand for palm oil — the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, in everything from instant noodles to lipstick — is driving worldwide tropical deforestation. While many studies have shown the loss of biodiversity when rainforests are converted to oil palm plantations, researchers have now shown the far-reaching and wide-ranging disturbances to the watersheds in which such plantations occur. The global demand for palm oil — the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, in everything from instant noodles to lipstick — is driving worldwide tropical deforestation. While many studies have shown the loss of biodiversity when rainforests are converted to oil palm plantations, researchers have now shown the far-reaching and wide-ranging disturbances to the watersheds in which such plantations occur.