Blog #11

Forest Loss in Sumatra Becomes a Global Issue
By Peter Gelling

In Sumatra there are projects going on to create palm-oil plantations in the middle of forests. They are deforesting (I didn’t think this was a word) in an area where the Riau Province is currently. A local scientist says that because of the deforesting the carbon monoxide gas that is in the air is getting higher as companies cut down more and more trees to make these palm-oil plantations. Palm-oil is now being used as an alternate in gas so the demand for it is becoming greater so they continue deforest the island. The people of the Riau province used to be able to go shrimp fishing in a nearby river and would earn up to 100 dollars but ever since the deforestation has been going on the shrimp are scarce and they are lucky to earn 5 dollars. It is said that what the deforesters are doing is helping the environment but it ends up that this in Sumatra is 20% of the worlds green house. I think that it is not necessary to cut down all the trees for demand because I am sure that there are others open places that can have a factory or plantation that will be able to produce the palm-oil as well.

Gelling , Peter. "Forest Loss in Sumatra Becomes a Global Issue." New York Times 06 Dec 2007 8 Mar 2009 .