Domestic refiners fear losses as RBD palm oil import increases

Last year, capacity of domestic refining industry was 38-40 million tonnes but utilisation was only 18 million tonnes

World Environment Day: How our greed for palm oil is destroying tropical rainforests  

The rapid expansion of palm oil plantations has led to the destruction of huge areas of Indonesia and Malaysia’s tropical rainforests, …

Palm oil giant IOI challenges suspension order in Zurich court

The compnay has challenged the suspension of its certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in the Zurich district court

Andaman & Nicobar wants to take a reverse gear on oil palm

Sixteen years after the Supreme Court banned monoculture plantations in the islands' fragile ecosystem, the administration wants it revoked

Global Eco Watch: Key Indonesia law incapable of protecting 80% of rainforest vulnerable to palm oil plantation

Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology

Environmentalists hail Indonesia's moratorium plan on new palm oil permits, mining operations

According to a study published in 2014 Indonesia had the highest rate of deforestation in the world

Why India doesn’t need palm oil but its greener alternatives

Palm oil is water-intensive and requires large patches of land

Oil palm in India’s northeast: economy v ecology

India is promoting oil palm plantations in northeastern states, but this could have negative impacts on the region’s biodiversity

Why India is unwilling to discuss forests at international fora

India’s recent spate of objections indicates an unwillingness to engage with issues related to forests and climate change, explained in …

Expanding palm oil cultivation in Africa can be risky for endangered primates

A new study says that it will be challenging to reconcile oil palm expansion and African primate conservation as most areas suitable for …

Despite increase in cover, Indonesia is fifth largest loser of forests

In 2011-13, Indonesia lost an average tree cover of 1.6 million hectares per year

Don’t eat the rainforests: Top brands complicit in Indonesia’s ecosystem destruction, probe alleges

Companies procuring oil from and financing the Royal Golden Eagle, which set up palm oil and pulp plantations in Indonesia, finds investigation

Itchy palm

Borneo's forests hacked

Borneo's tropical forests face the axe

Albino palm civet sighted in Odisha after 129 years in Satkosia Tiger Reserve

A partial albino common palm civet was last sighted in 1891 in the state’s Kandhamal district

Palm oil and environmental, social challenges in India: The road ahead

Deforestation, damaging effects on the environment and human rights violation are among major challenges related to palm oil production 

HSBC forced to safeguard Indonesia's rainforests

A probe by international non-profit Greenpeace linked Europe’s largest bank to companies destroying rainforests

VICTIMS OF WAR

Palmed off

An oil with several ill-effects

Palm oil consumption increased 230% in almost 2 decades, yet India imports most of it

India has not been able to achieve self-sufficiency in palm oil production despite 40 years of efforts. Down To Earth travelled to some of the …

Malaysia recovers palm oil sales

Malaysian palm exports to the US have increased dramatically after Malaysia retaliated against attempts to portray the product as being dangerous …

Palm plantations

Green palm oil

Palm oil plantations driving illegal logging in Indonesia

Report shows how corruption and lax enforcement by government is abetting illegal practices by well-connected business people

Making sunlight liquid – a brief history of sunflowers

If we continue to adapt sunflowers to our needs as climates change, we must ensure diverse genes are conserved for future generations