Palm oil ban likely to displace, not halt, biodiversity losses
A ban on palm oil due to fears it may cause deforestation could displace rather than halt global biodiversity losses as it would likely increase output of other oil crops to meet rising vegetable oil demand, an international survey showed on Tuesday. An EU deal was adopted earlier this month to phase out of its use by 2030. The report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) acknowledged palm oil was eating into tropical forests and its production was threatening over 190 species, with orangutans, gibbons and tigers among those suffering severe harm. “But if it is replaced by much larger areas of rapeseed, soy or sunflower fields, different natural ecosystems and species may suffer.” Certified palm oil had so far proven to be only marginally better in preventing deforestation than its non-certified equivalent, the report said.
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