It was my pleasure to take part in the 2nd annual Earth Day collaboration!

I chose a topic so close to home that personally affects me and my loved ones. Each year the deforestation of the Indonesian forests becomes worse with the dreaded ‘haze period’ lasting longer and becoming more harmful.
Palm oil is used in thousands of products that we use every day, from baked goods and ice cream to household cleaning products and shampoo.
Unfortunately, the industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses in the countries where it is produced, as the land and forests must be cleared for the development of the oil palm plantations. Indonesia and Malaysia, nations with large tropical forests, are the dominant producers of palm oil on the world market today.
When these forests are lost, carbon is released into the atmosphere, driving global warming. The Sumatran orangutan, elephant, and tiger, all of which are critically endangered, as well the endangered Bornean orangutans and pygmy elephants, are being driven toward extinction as their habitat is converted into massive oil palm plantations.
In some cases, deforestation linked to palm oil has also robbed local people of their land and livelihoods, and deprived them of essential ecosystem services like clean water and fertile soils. Human health is likewise affected by smoke from burning forests. This is not just a problem for people living close to the fires but also for those living further afield, as far as Singapore where I live, as the smoke haze spreads.

Photo credits : Photography by Sandra Macheroux