Growing demand for palm oil from China, says Kok
The Ministry of Primary industries has received a number of requests from China, expressing interest in buying large quantities of palm oil and palm-based products from Malaysia following the Prime Minister’s official visit to Beijing recently.Malay Mail , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, China, Palm Oil, Palm oil
Ban on rosewood : Over 300 containers impounded - Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission has disclosed that over 300 containers of rosewood have so far been impounded in their effort to enforce the total ban placed on rosewood.Prime News Ghana , 16 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade
Stop the logging
Johor is losing hundreds of million ringgit in revenue from illegal logging activities at a forest reserve in Mersing.The Star Online , 16 May 2019
Malaysia, Timber, illegal logging, malaysia, johor
Leaving Paris Agreement: Indonesia’s loss or the world’s?
Angry comments have greeted the announcement of the European Union that Indonesia’s palm oil would be banned as the industry had aggravated deforestation, thus it was not renewable energy. Palm oil is the only commodity dropped out of EU’s list of renewable energy source due to its correlation to deforestation. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have reacted by sending an official joint letter to the bloc earlier this month.The Jakarta Post , 16 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, Palm oil
Four development projects receive 37 million euros funding
The funding will further help in financing the joint collaboration project on "Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in Indonesia" to recognize alternative sources of income to timber and palm oil for smallholders that are both domestically and internationally profitable and that can avert further deforestation in Indonesia.Antara News , 15 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, deforestation
Nigeria losses $500 million annually to importation, illegal smuggling of Palm oil
The National Palm produce association of Nigeria says the importation and illegal smuggling of Palm oil is making local producers lose 500 million dollars annually.TVC News , 15 May 2019
Nigeria, Malaysia, Palm Oil, africa
Peru Promises to be Blunt Against Deforestation
Deforestation in Peru has been consistently growing throughout the years and, according to official data, more than 1,500 square kilometers of forests have been destroyed only in 2017, El País said.Living in Peru , 15 May 2019
Peru, Timber, forest
Manufacturing Consent: How Palm Oil Companies Evict
This film by Indonesia Nature Film Society (INFIS) compiles evidence and testimonies of the Dayak tribe from Muara Tae in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, where a palm oil company is grabbing their indigenous land. Members of the clan described evictions without compensation which was organised by PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya (PT Borneo).Engage Media , 15 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia
Setback for EU fighter jets as Malaysia bets on palm oil barter
Hamstrung by huge public debt, Malaysia is planning to use palm oil to buy military equipment, including fighter jets. European defense companies may not be enthused about Kuala Lumpur's latest attempt at barter trade.DW, 15 May 2019
Europe, Palm Oil, EU
M’sia to continue working with Indonesia to defend palm oil
Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to defend palm oil which is under sabotage by lobbyists in Europe, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking.The Star , 14 May 2019
Malaysia, Indonesia, Europe, Palm Oil, EU ban
Germany won't ban Malaysian palm oil
The German Ambassador to Malaysia Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff has assured that his country will not ban palm oil trade from Malaysia.New Straits Times , 14 May 2019
Germany, Palm Oil, Germany
In Spite of Environmental Concerns, Europe Continues to Buy Brazilian Beef
A new report reveals the major European supermarkets that are potentially fueling illegal deforestation when they support the Brazilian cattle industry.Pacific Standard , 14 May 2019
Europe, Beef, europe
Species extinction, climate change research gets radical, and replanting a 2 million tree rainforest
A recent paper published in Ecology and Evolution found that second generation oil palm plantations support 20 percent less diversity of invertebrates and 59 percent fewer animals than the first. Oil palm plantations have a profitable lifespan of only 25 years and the paper’s authors conclude that ‘long-term production of palm oil comes at a higher cost than previously thought’.Forest News , 14 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, indonesia
New NGO report highlights APP's continued involvement in deforestation despite its zero deforestation commitment
A group of NGOs under the Anti Forest Mafia Coalition, including WWF-Indonesia, has published a joint report highlighting that Sinar Mas Group’s Asia Pulp & Paper (SMG/APP) continues to be involved in deforestation, peatland destruction and fires even after committing to zero deforestation in 2013.WWF, 14 May 2019
Indonesia, Timber, deforestation
UOB funds Malaysia company that is said to be destroying Mulu rainforest for palm oil plantations; indigenous communities plea to stop the move as it’s their land.
In a move to cater the needs for Western consumers, Mulu Rainforest in Sarawak is being destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations, and this project is funded by Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB).The Online Citizen , 14 May 2019
Malaysia, Palm Oil, Indigenous People
Forest Commission says report on forest cover loss inaccurate
The Forestry Commission has described as inacurate a report by the World Resource Institute (WRI) claiming that Ghana witnessed a 60 per cent change in forest cover loss between 2017 and 2018.Ghana News Agency , 14 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, forest
Fight EU Ban and Critism, Indonesia to Establish Palm Oil Map
Indonesia to establish palm oil one map, to harmonize land data and to respond public criticism. The map is expected to be completed in August, said government official last week.The Insider Stories , 13 May 2019
Indonesia, Europe, Palm Oil, indonesia
Sime Darby Plantation eyes Latam deals to avoid being stymied at home
Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, the world’s largest palm oil planter, is looking to buy refineries in Latin America as it grapples with poor margins and mounting costs at home.The Edge Markets , 13 May 2019
Malaysia, Palm Oil, Malaysia
Chinese Rosewood smuggling firm shut down in Damongo
Savanna regional minister Salifu Adam Braimah, on Friday, May 10, ordered the shutdown a Chinese rosewood company in the capital, Damongo.Ghana Web , 13 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade
UK supermarkets implicated in Amazon deforestation supply chain: report
A report from the UK organization Earthsight finds that UK supermarket chains — including Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Lidl — are still importing corned beef from Brazil’s largest beef producer, JBS, despite the company being implicated in a long string of corruption and illegal deforestation scandals over the last decade.Mongabay, 13 May 2019
United Kingdom, Beef, Beef
Court rejects Helena Huang’s surety’s appeal for time to find suspect
Savannah Regional Minister, Salifu Adam Braimah ordered the closure of Brivywell Company, the timber firm owned by Helena Huang.Ghana Web , 13 May 2019
Ghana, Timber, illegal timber trade
Jakarta Globe reports: EU Visit to Oil Palm Plantation in Riau Eases Tensions
Eight EU representatives from Belgium, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Hungary, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and a representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization, visited an Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil-certified oil palm plantation in Riau on Thursday.Jakarta Globe , 13 May 2019
Europe, Indonesia, Palm Oil, EU
Fears over rising violence in Amazon as 'forest guardians' battle logging
Following traditional rituals, indigenous chief Olimpio Santos Guajajara paints his face with red dye from urucum seeds as he prepares to go on patrol to protect Brazil’s Amazon rainforestReuters, 13 May 2019
Brazil, Beef, Brazil
Indonesia is not serious about resolving human rights violations in palm oil plantations
Human rights violations are all too common in the palm oil sector, from approproating local communities' land to unfair working conditions, child labour, violence, rape and other crimes.Environmental Investigation Agency , 13 May 2019
Indonesia, Palm Oil, labour
Bolsonaro’s plan to unlock the Amazon: split its indigenous peoples
Congress is blocking Brazil’s leader from expanding farming on indigenous lands, now he is making alliances with some traditional landowners.Climate Home News , 13 May 2019
Brazil, Beef, Brazil