Our greatest treasure and how we are destroying it.

Recently I am getting quite desperate about how we do not value our planet without which we would not even exist. None of us-not me, not you, not all of the people you know and ever seen. It gave life to the first of us and will give life to last of us. And truth be said, that last of us may come pretty soon.

Recently you may have read about the devastating fires which destroy south-asian countries, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. However, these fires are not often mentioned on tv or radio news althought they deserve much more attention because it is fate of our planet which is at stake. There is a hidden reason why it is not so often mentioned, that reason is palm oil and the compaines which produce it or use it in their products.

These fires destroy tropical rainforests of Borneo which are, altogether with other rainsforests, lungs of our planet. Not to mention that Borneo’s rainforest is the oldest of them all and its biodiversity is enormous and it is probably many species which inhabit these rainforest have not been yet discovered by scientists. Borneo is also one of the last sanctuaries for orangutans who are much similar to us humans. There are also many species which are endemic to Borneo and would dissapear from the world completely if local rainforest would be wiped out.

The main problem is that these fires have not started out of nothing. In order to understand who and why started these fires we have to take a look into the history. In 1980s greedy businessmen from Borneo who had seen their opportunity in growing oil palm which produces palm oil which has variety of uses and due to cheap price is today used in enormous number of products. Soon the businessmen found out that there is significant constraint in expanding their production-space. In that time most of the Borneo was covered by dense rainforest and palm oil plantations were scarce, today its the other way around.

But it would not be that way if government would take measures against those who burn forest to clear way for palm oil plantations. Unfortunately, those who produce palm oil are those who can afford to bribe government officials and therefore nothing is done about destroying pristine rainforests. Companies producing palm oil most favoured practice is to set fire to rainforest so that no-one can find out who is responsible and then just clear away burned wood and sell it so that they can acquire funds needed to establish new plantation. The companies seize this land regardless of local inhabitants whose livelihood depends on the land, which produce crops to sustain their basic needs. Local farmers are not compensated in any way and they usually have nobody who could help them.

Palm oil plantations destroy the whole ecosystem of Borneo. The plantations are like green deserts as nothing else grows or lives among oil palms. To grow oil palms enormous amount of water is needed and the land on which the palm grows is weakened over the time. Eventually when the palm cease to yeild and dies it leaves behind exhausted land where only grass can grow. Moreover, all orangutans which are found on the plantations are killed or maimed because they destroy growing palms. As a consequence, about 5 000 orangutans is killed every year. Other exotic animals which are found on plantations are usually taken away and then sold illegally.

The dreadful conditions of Borneo’s ecosystem have been deteriorating for many years and now hopefully have come the time when finally something will be done about it or this treasure of our planet could be lost forever. Now, due to el-nino climatic conditions, fires which usually go out after some time has spread enormously and became unstoppable. More than 100 000 fires were burning since August and more than half a million people suffered respiratory problems. These fires emit more carbon dioxide than the entire US economy. Six ASEAN countries have been affected by haze caused by fires. Not to mention how the nature and all the species living in the area have been affected.

I visited the wonderful island of Borneo this summer and I have been astonished by its natural wonders and I would love to show it to my children one day, that is why I decided to write this article. To share my worries with the world and to appeal to all those who will hear my prayer for the future of our planet. Everyone can help to curb the illegal practices which lead to devastation of rainforests. Let’s take a moment to think about it before we buy a product which contains palm oil. When there is no demand for palm oil, the producers will not continue extending the plantations.

I wonder when we will start to appreciate what nature have been giving us because we would be nothing without it. I know that everyone is busy nowadays and too absorbed in their own life and issues. That there are wars in the world, famines and worse and many people die everyday. These events are mentioned everyday in the news more than often. However, when you think about it more thoroughly the nature comes first in this world, as without it there would be no people to worry about and all the issues we have are meaningless in comparison. PS: I am sorry about my English as I am not native speaker.