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How did oil palm cultivation affect Bornean orangutan habitat?

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ecological disturbance caused by forest fire — ecological disturbance Aerial view of the remains of trees on a hillside after a forest fire.

The cultivation of oil palm has significantly contributed to the decline of the Bornean orangutan by driving extensive habitat loss.12

Between 1980 and 2010, palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia increased by 900 percent, necessitating the clearing of vast areas of tropical forest. This systematic removal of forest cover deprives orangutans of their essential living space and food resources. Because these fragmented ecosystems are less resilient, the destruction caused by plantation expansion—often combined with hunting pressure—has pushed the species toward extinction, with some estimates suggesting they could disappear by the middle of the 21st century.12

It is a moral imperative to recognize that the pursuit of economic gain through such destructive land-use practices directly threatens the survival of endangered species and the integrity of global biodiversity.1