Beyond the Stigma: IPB Professor Calls for Science-Based View on Palm Oil and Deforestation

PALMOILMAGAZINE, YOGYAKARTA – Deforestation should not be simplistically equated with oil palm development. At that time, the dominant crop was not oil palm, but tobacco, which was highly demanded by European markets. Based on comparative biodiversity studies, oil palm plantations are known to host various wildlife taxa, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. He noted that converting secondary forests into oil palm plantations generally reduces mammal species diversity. Palm Oil and Flood Risk: The Role of Dead FrondsProf. Yanto also addressed claims that oil palm plantations cause flooding.