About biomass and biofuels

For background information on biomass and biofuels go to:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/biomass.html
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuels

Consequences of growing palm oil trees

For economic data about the palm oil industry in Malaysia go to the website of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board   http://www.mpob.gov.my

For some interesting counter arguments on the same site go to the ‘Archives on Hot Picks’ to view the article ‘Sustainable Production of Malaysian Palm Oil – The Facts’.

An interesting but overly detailed example on social consequences can be found on the website of Down to Earth, the international campaign for ecological justice in Indonesia   http://www.dte.gn.apc.org/
Selecting campaigns ® CDC plantations in Kalimantan will enable you to download a very detailed report   The dispute between the indigenous community and PT Harapan Sawit Lestari oil palm plantation, Manis Mata, Ketapang district, West Kalimantan Report by WALHI Kalbar and DTE, September 2000. This is far too long for class use but the box ‘Problems for local communities’ and Appendix B ‘Some interviews with Members of Local Communities’ illustrate well the social consequences when locals are not consulted about a new palm oil plantation.

The WWF website has information about Borneo and orang-utans see, www.panda.org
To download maps of orang-utan distribution and forest cover, go to
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/ our_solutions/borneo_forests/publications/index.cfm
select publications and then maps or use the quick links
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/mapborneoorangutandistribution.pdf
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/mapborneoforestcoverloss.pdf

Saving the Heart of Borneo

For information about Borneo and the ‘Heart of Borneo’ campaign go to http://www.panda.org/borneo
To download maps of orang-utan distribution and forest cover, go to   www.panda.org/borneo, select publications or use the quick links
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/mapborneoorangutandistribution.pdf
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/mapborneoforestcoverloss.pdf

NB Additional maps are found by selecting ‘maps’ including a map showing the suitability of land for growing palm oil trees.

World Wildlife Fund document ‘Borneo’s Lost World’ available from the ‘Borneo Forests’ page of the WWF website contains interesting information on the biodiversity of the forests.

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