The orangutan–oil palm conflict: economic constraints and opportunities for conservation

Abstract

The future of the orangutan (Pongo spp.) is far from secure despite the species' high profile and media attention. The traditional threat to the orangutan has been widespread logging, but the continuing conversion of remaining habitat for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) cultivation is hastening its extinction in the wild. This situation is driven by a robust global market for palm oil as a vegetable oil and biofuel. In tackling this conservation problem, therefore, economic factors cannot be overlooked. This article analyses these factors and how they curtail effective orangutan conservation. Of significance are the high opportunity costs of orangutan conservation and market failures associated with the public-goods nature of the orangutan's forest habitat. Conservationists should consider these constraints when formulating remedial action. This article assesses strategies that reduce the opportunity cost of conserving habitat (via supply-side approaches that divert oil palm cultivation away from forests) and enhance the realisable value of orangutan habitat (by capitalising on the demand for non-market values such as carbon storage). It is concluded that the former group of strategies are likely to have limited effect on curtailing deforestation, but with the right institutional policies in place they can act as stopgaps while strategies involving carbon financing and payments for biodiversity develop sufficiently to render habitat retention financially competitive.

Are secondary forests second-rate? Comparing peatland greenhouse gas emissions, chemical and microbial community properties between primary and secondary forests in Peninsular Malaysia

“…In spite of their global importance, tropical peatlands remain relatively poorly understood ecosystems (Posa et al, 2011;Yule, 2010). The interest and importance of tropical peatlands became apparent only after most of the peat forests in SEA were degraded for logging and agricultural plantations, creating global attention on endangerment of iconic species such as orangutans and tigers (Swarna Nantha and Tisdell, 2009), along with persistent smog created by burning of peatlands (McKirdy, 2015). However despite this, anthropogenic disturbance in peatlands continues.…”

Population status of chimpanzees in the Masito‐Ugalla Ecosystem, Tanzania

“…In western Tanzania, human incursion into the Masito area is mostly for conversion of forest into oil palm plantations, but also for slash and burn agriculture [Pintea et al, 2002[Pintea et al, ,2012. This conversion is particularly concerning for conservationists given the known negative impacts of oil palm habitat conversion, from the loss in biodiversity to increases in habitat fragmentation and pollution [Fitzherbert et al, 2008;Swarna Nantha & Tisdell, 2008].…”

Oil palm and rural livelihoods in theAsia–Pacific region: An overview

“…The environmental issues arising from oil palm development have perhaps attracted the most widespread global concern (Bennett et al ., ; Dauvergne, ; Lian and Wilcove, ; Wicke et al ., ; Tanaka et al ., ; Swarna Nantha and Tisdell, ; Venter et al ., ; Carlson et al ., ; Filer, ). There is controversy surrounding the extensive conversion of tropical rainforests to oil palm monocultures, entailing a loss of biodiversity and the endangerment of highly valued species such as the orangutan in large regions of Sumatra and Borneo.…”