geography sac 1- deforestation SUMATRA CASE STUDY

sumatra + deforestation

sumatra is an Indonesian island containing 63% of Indonesia's oil palm plantations and has experienced severe deforestation due to palm oil, logging, and infrastructure expansion.

main causes of deforestation in sumatra

Palm oil expansion (economic)

Legal and illegal logging (economic + political)

Infrastructure development (economic)

Weak law enforcement (political)Wildfires (environmental)

what is palm oil?

Vegetable oil made from oil palm fruit used in food, cosmetics, and biofuel

why is palm oil in high demand?

Cheap to produce

Versatile uses

Long shelf life

Efficient crop (high yield per hectare)

why is palm oil important economically to indonesia?

Major export product

Contributes 4.5% of GDP

Employs over 16 million people

global palm oil land increase (1970-2020)

Increased from 3 million hectares to 30 million hectares (10× increase)

indonesia's role in palm oil production

Produces 47 million tonnes

Supplies 54% of global exports

Largest producer globally

why is Sumatra ideal for palm oil production?

Warm climate

Fertile soil

Access to ports

palm oil land coverage in sumatra

Covers 7.9 million hectares

Equals 17% of total land area

major palm oil companies in Sumatra

Wilmar International

Golden Agri-Resources

Astra Agro Lestari

Asian Agri

Salim Ivomas Pratama

how does legal logging cause deforestation?

government permits allow companies to clear forests for timber and development

why is law enforcement weak in indonesia?

poor monitoring

Corruption

Focus on small loggers instead of corporations

Government policies encouraging deforestation

Permits for oil palm plantations

Economic growth prioritised over conservation

Forest loss statistics in Sumatra

75,000 km² lost

260,000 km² lost across Indonesia (1990-2015)

Impact on endangered species

Habitat loss threatens:

Orangutans

Tigers (less than 500 remaining)

Elephants

Impact on greenhouse gas emissions

Releases 240-447 million tonnes CO₂ annually

Burning peatlands releases massive carbon emissions

Why peatland destruction is dangerous

Stores large carbon amounts

Fires burn underground and are hard to stop

Impact of deforestation on Indigenous people

Loss of land and homes

Loss of food and income sources

Forced relocation

Suku Anak Dalam impacts

2000 people lost their land

Forced into settlements

Disease outbreaks like measles

Health impacts from wildfires

9000 deaths from smoke inhalation (2019)

Hazardous air pollution

School closures

Positive economic impacts of palm oil

4.5% of Indonesia's GDP

Provides 16 million jobs

Negative economic impacts of deforestation

Agricultural losses of $47 billion

Companies fined for pollution

Example of local anti-deforestation response

Aceh Tamiang government removed illegal plantations

How land was restored locally

Native trees replanted after illegal palm removal.

Why local government acted strongly

Flood disasters linked to deforestation.

What was Indonesia's forest moratorium?

Ban on new permits for clearing primary forests and peatlands (introduced 2011).

Goal of moratorium

Reduce deforestation and protect carbon-rich forests.

Effectiveness of moratorium

Slowed deforestation

Did NOT stop it

Weak enforcement remained a problem

why palm oil is a global issue

Used in 50% of packaged goods worldwide

What is the PALM Risk Tool?

Satellite tool that identifies deforestation risks around palm oil mills

How PALM tool helps reduce deforestation

Identifies high-risk areas

Improves supply chain monitoring

Supports zero-deforestation commitments

What is Global Forest Watch (GFW)?

Satellite system monitoring forest loss globally in near-real-time.

How geospatial technology helps manage deforestation

Detects deforestation early

Tracks forest loss

Helps governments and companies respond

How geospatial tech helps climate change mitigation

Tracks carbon emissions

Supports conservation

Improves accountability

% of Indonesia palm plantations in Sumatra

63%

Palm oil contribution to Indonesia GDP

4.5%

Jobs provided by palm oil industry

16 million

remaining Sumatran tiger population

less than 500

Forest moratorium introduced

2011