Comment: Will Indonesia lose the next oil palm?

May 16, p7

Deep in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo in the late 1980s, researchers made an incredible discovery: The bark of a species of peat swamp tree yielded an extract with potent anti-HIV activity. But when the scientists returned to the site, they were shocked to find the tree, and its promise, gone.

Its disappearance triggered a frantic scramble to locate further specimens. Finally, a tree collected 100 years earlier was located in Singapore’s Botanical Gardens. Subsequent studies revealed its bioactive compound, canalolide A, to show great potential in treating AIDS. An anti-HIV drug made from the compound is now nearing clinical trials. This story is significant for Indonesia because its forests house a similar species.

Your comments:

What Mr. Butler says here is really important and I hope the message reaches a lot of people. Indonesia can’t replace its biodiversity once it is gone so why are its businesses putting so much at risk for an industry that accounts for only 5-6 percent of the economy?

Allison K
Berkeley

This is really thought-provoking. I hope policymakers and businessmen read this. It is very important for Indonesia’s long-term growth.

Charlie
Los Angeles

What has happened in Indonesia to forests is a global tragedy. But remaining forests could still be saved, and most of Indonesia’s biodiversity preserved.

As the world wakes up to climate change and mass extinction, the forests in Indonesia will become far more valuable standing rather than felled for a monoculture plantation.

Leon
The US

I will definitely be checking the sources of palm oil in the products I buy. I will choose to avoid palm oil from Indonesia until it is proven 100 percent that rainforests are no longer being cleared.

Sam
london