Research by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission found that although oil palm cultivation represents an important source of income for many tropical countries, its future expansion is a primary threat to tropical forests and biodiversity.
“Results warn that, consistent with the dramatic effects of #palmoil cultivation on #biodiversity in #Asia, reconciling a large-scale oil palm growth in Africa with #primate #conservation will be a great challenge” #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet
In this context, and especially in regions where industrial palm oil production is still emerging, identifying “areas of compromise,” that is, areas with high productivity and low biodiversity importance, could be a unique opportunity to reconcile conservation and economic growth. The team applied this approach to Africa, by combining data on oil palm suitability with primate distribution, diversity, and vulnerability.
“We found that such areas of compromise are very rare throughout the continent (0.13 Mha), and that large-scale expansion of oil palm cultivation in Africa will have unavoidable, negative effects on primates.”
Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa (2018) Giovanni Strona, Simon D. Stringer, Ghislain Vieilledent, et. al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2018, 115 (35) 8811-8816; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804775115
“Despite growing awareness about its detrimental effects on tropical biodiversity, land conversion to palm oil continues to increase rapidly as a consequence of global demand, profitability, and the income opportunity it offers to producing countries.”
Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa (2018) Giovanni Strona, Simon D. Stringer, Ghislain Vieilledent, et. al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2018, 115 (35) 8811-8816; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804775115
Although most industrial oil palm plantations are located in Southeast Asia, it is argued that much of their future expansion will occur in Africa. The team assessed how this could affect the continent’s primates by combining information on oil palm suitability and current land use with primate distribution, diversity, and vulnerability.
They also quantified the potential impact of large-scale oil palm cultivation on primates in terms of range loss under different expansion scenarios taking into account future demand, oil palm suitability, human accessibility, carbon stock, and primate vulnerability.
They found a high overlap between areas of high oil palm suitability and areas of high conservation priority for primates. Overall, we found only a few small areas where oil palm could be cultivated in Africa with a low impact on primates (3.3 Mha, including all areas suitable for oil palm).
“These results warn that, consistent with the dramatic effects of palm oil cultivation on biodiversity in Southeast Asia, reconciling a large-scale development of oil palm in Africa with primate conservation will be a great challenge.”
Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa (2018) Giovanni Strona, Simon D. Stringer, Ghislain Vieilledent, et. al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2018, 115 (35) 8811-8816; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804775115
Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa (2018) Giovanni Strona, Simon D. Stringer, Ghislain Vieilledent, et. al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Aug 2018, 115 (35) 8811-8816; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804775115
Primatologist Dr Cleve Hicks warns about how palm oil is poised destroy primate populations in Africa and why he believes the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife is the answer
Primatologist Cleve Hicks on Chimpanzee cultures, Palm Oil deforestation in His Own Words
Dr Hicks speaks with Palm Oil Detectives about his chimpanzee research, veganism, deforestation, palm oil and what consumers can do to help the endangered animals of Africa.
Read moreBoycott the brands causing deforestation for palm oil, soy and meat by joining the #Boycott4Wildlife
Palm Oil Detectives 
One thought on “Research: Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa”