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Study finds logging of tropical forests needn't devastate environment

Harvesting tropical forests for timber may not be the arch-enemy of conservation that it was once assumed to be, according to a new study led by a University of Florida researcher.

Space & Earth / Environment

created May 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Biodiversity could be casualty of Myanmar openness

(AP) -- As many as 40,000 gorgeously plumed birds known as the Gurney's pitta thrive in the lowland rainforests of economically backward Myanmar. Across the border, Thailand's last five pairs are guarded around ...

Biology / Ecology

created May 07, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Green groups say Indonesia deforestation ban 'weak'

A coalition of green groups in Indonesia on Thursday criticised a moratorium on deforestation as "weak", saying the year-long ban still excludes large tracts of the country's carbon-rich forests.

Space & Earth / Environment

created May 03, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Investors play a crucial role in sustainable palm oil

WWF is urging investors to do more to promote sustainable palm oil, backed by findings from a new survey released during a high-level meeting of investors and producers in Singapore.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Apr 30, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Oil palm surging source of greenhouse gas emissions

Continued expansion of industrial-scale oil palm plantations on the island of Borneo will become a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 unless strong forest and peatland protections are enacted and enforced, ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Apr 26, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 7

Assessing protected area effectiveness

A new study published in Conservation Letters aims to measure whether parks and reserves in the tropics succeed in protecting forests.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Apr 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Indonesia land clearance 'wiping out' orangutans

Critically-endangered orangutans in a protected area of Indonesia will be wiped out by the end of the year if land clearing is not stopped, a coalition of environmental groups warned Wednesday.

Biology / Ecology

created Mar 28, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study reveals why our ancestors switched to bipedal power

(PhysOrg.com) -- Our earliest ancestors may have started walking on two limbs instead of four in a bid to monopolise resources and to carry as much food as possible in one go, researchers have found.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 20, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (15) | comments 12 | with audio podcast

Indonesia releases orangutans into the wild

Four orangutans were released into the wild on Indonesia's Borneo island on Tuesday, an official said, as the country ramps up efforts to protect the animals from extinction.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Feb 28, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Leaked documents indicate EU looking to reclassify carbon emissions from biofuels

(PhysOrg.com) -- In order to wean themselves from their dependence on oil derived from fossil fuels, many countries, consortiums, and other groups have put incentives in place for the growing of plants that ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Jan 30, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 6 | with audio podcast weblog

Sumatran elephants could be extinct in 30 years

The Sumatran elephant could be extinct in the wild within three decades unless immediate steps are taken to slow the breakneck pace of deforestation, environmentalists warned Tuesday.

Biology / Ecology

created Jan 24, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Indonesia to conserve half of Borneo region

Indonesia's forestry ministry said Thursday it would conserve nearly half its share of Borneo island, which is covered with dense rainforest, so as to meet a presidential pledge to reduce gas emissions.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Jan 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Prime Indonesian jungle to be cleared for palm oil

(AP) -- The man known as Indonesia's "green governor" chases the roar of illegal chainsaws through plush jungles in his own Jeep. He goes door-to-door to tell families it's in their interest to keep trees ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 09, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 4

UNIMAS introduces biofuel made from palm waste

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is to start producing biofuel extracted from palm 'sago' (stem pith) waste - the first of its kind - through its Sago Research Centre.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Nov 24, 2011 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Oil palms and conservation -- do they mix?

Conservation science can help protect the variety of living things in tropical landscapes even if they are being turned into oil palm plantations, new research argues.

Biology / Ecology

created Nov 24, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Palm oil

Palm oil is an edible plant oil derived from the fruit and kernels (seeds) of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis. Palm oil is naturally reddish because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene (though boiling it destroys the carotenoids and renders the oil colourless). Palm oil is one of the few vegetable oils relatively high in saturated fats (like coconut oil) and thus semi-solid at room temperature.

The oil is widely used as a cooking oil, as an ingredient in margarine, and is a component of many processed foods. It is also an important component of many soaps, washing powders and personal care products, is used to treat wounds, and also controversially as a feedstock for biofuel.

Palm oil was previously the second-most widely produced edible oil, after soybean oil,[citation needed]. However, in the 2004-2005 marketing year, 33.5 million metric tonnes were produced worldwide, compared to 32.6 million metric tonnes of soybean oil.

For more information about Palm oil, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.