<p>Total tropical primary forest loss in 2023 totaled 3.7 million hectares, the equivalent of losing almost 10 football (soccer) fields of forest per minute. <a href="https://gfw.global/3TPufvy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">View on the Global Forest Review.</a></p>


2023 Tree Cover Loss Data Analysis

People

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Cacao

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logging

logging | Global Forest Watch Blog

oil palm

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Peru

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<div class="imageright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" alt="MAAP-logo-14" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/MAAP-logo-14.png" width="100%" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/MAAP-logo-14.png 616w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/MAAP-logo-14-300x77.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px" /></div>
<p> In the previous <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/deforest2012-14/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #25</a> and <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/hotspots2015/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #26</a>, we illustrated deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon for the periods 2012-2014 and 2015*, respectively. Here in <strong>MAAP #32,</strong> we present a complementary analysis based on the size of deforestation events.  <strong>Graph 32a</strong> shows the comparative results of deforestation patterns between 2013 and 2015, indicating that: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Small-scale</strong> (< 5 hectares) accounted for the vast majority of deforestation events (70-80%) each year.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Medium-scale</strong> (5-50 hectares) accounted for approximately 20% of the deforestation events each year.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Large-scale</strong> (> 50 hectares) deforestation was variable. In 2013, the year with the most activity of new cacao and oil palm plantations, it accounted for 8% of the deforestation events. In 2015 it was only 1%.</li>
</ul>
<p> <strong>In summary,</strong> small- and medium-scale deforestation events represent more than 90% of the total and a constant threat, while large-scale deforestation events represents a latent threat. As described below, large-scale projects can quickly cause massive deforestation events, and should therefore remain a high priority.  *We have increased our deforestation estimate for 2015 to 163,238 hectares (403,370 acres), the second highest on record (behind only 2014). This estimate is based on GLAD alerts, produced by University of Maryland, Google, and Global Forest Watch. </p>
<h3>Base Map</h3>
<p> <strong>Image 32a</strong> shows, in graphic form, the deforestation patterns described above for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). Further below, we show zooms for three key zones in the north, central, and south, respectively. </p>
<div class="center"><img decoding="async" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32a. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_v1_en-900x612.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32a. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div>
<h3>Northern Peruvian Amazon</h3>
<p> <strong>Image 32b</strong> shows a zoom of the northern Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a pattern of small-scale deforestation along the rivers of Loreto. Additionally, in 2013, there were <strong>large-scale deforestation events</strong> for a cacao project located to the southeast of the city of Iquitos (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/united-cacao/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #27</a> for more details) and for oil palm plantations along the border of Loreto and San Martin regions (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image16-shanusi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #16</a> for more details). In 2015, the expansion of deforestation continued in these areas, but at a medium-scale. </p>
<div class="center"><img decoding="async" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32b. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_n_v1_en-1500x780.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32b. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div>
<h3>Central Peruvian Amazon</h3>
<p> <strong>Image 32c</strong> shows a zoom of the central Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a concentration of <strong>small- and medium-scale deforestation</strong> between northwest Ucayali and southeast Huánuco. Additionally, in 2013, there is <strong>large-scale deforestation</strong> for two new oil palm plantations located northeast of the city of Pucallpa (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image-4-oil-palm-projects-cause-deforestation-of-primary-forest-in-the-peruvian-amazon-part-1-nueva-requena/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #4</a> for more details). </p>
<div class="center"><img decoding="async" style="paggin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32c. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_c_v1_en-1500x780.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32c. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div>
<h3>Southern Peruvian Amazon</h3>
<p> <strong>Image 32d</strong> shows a zoom of the southern Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a pattern of <strong>small- and medium-scale deforestation</strong> along the Interoceanic highway in Madre de Dios. Additionally, there is the persistence of <strong>large-scale deforestation</strong> in southern Madre de Dios related to illegal gold mining (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image12-lapampa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #12</a> for more details). </p>
<div class="center"><img decoding="async" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32d. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_s_v1_en-1500x780-1.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32d. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div>
<h3>Citation</h3>
<p> Finer M, Novoa S (2016) Large-scale vs. Small-scale Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 32.  </p>
<hr />
<div class="attribute">  This post originally appeared on <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/scale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP</a>, which is a project of the <a href="http://www.amazonconservation.org/">Amazon Conservation Association</a> (ACA)—a Global Forest Watch <a href="http://content.globalforestwatch.org/2014/10/announcing-the-inaugural-recipients-of-the-small-grants-fund/">Small Grants Fund</a> recipient.  BANNER PHOTO: United Cacao clearing as seen on <a href="http://bit.ly/1STzoxc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Global Forest Watch</a>.  </div>
<hr />
<style type="text/css"></style>

PARTNER POST: MAAP #32: LARGE-SCALE VS. SMALL-SCALE DEFORESTATION IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

<div class="imageright"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" alt="MAAP-logo-14" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/MAAP-logo-14.png" width="100%" /></div> In the previous <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/deforest2012-14/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #25</a> and <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/hotspots2015/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #26</a>, we illustrated deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon for the periods 2012-2014 and 2015*, respectively. Here in <strong>MAAP #32,</strong> we present a complementary analysis based on the size of deforestation events.  <strong>Graph 32a</strong> shows the comparative results of deforestation patterns between 2013 and 2015, indicating that: <ul> 	<li><strong>Small-scale</strong> (&lt; 5 hectares) accounted for the vast majority of deforestation events (70-80%) each year.</li> </ul> <ul> 	<li><strong>Medium-scale</strong> (5-50 hectares) accounted for approximately 20% of the deforestation events each year.</li> </ul> <ul> 	<li><strong>Large-scale</strong> (&gt; 50 hectares) deforestation was variable. In 2013, the year with the most activity of new cacao and oil palm plantations, it accounted for 8% of the deforestation events. In 2015 it was only 1%.</li> </ul> <strong>In summary,</strong> small- and medium-scale deforestation events represent more than 90% of the total and a constant threat, while large-scale deforestation events represents a latent threat. As described below, large-scale projects can quickly cause massive deforestation events, and should therefore remain a high priority.  *We have increased our deforestation estimate for 2015 to 163,238 hectares (403,370 acres), the second highest on record (behind only 2014). This estimate is based on GLAD alerts, produced by University of Maryland, Google, and Global Forest Watch. <h3>Base Map</h3> <strong>Image 32a</strong> shows, in graphic form, the deforestation patterns described above for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). Further below, we show zooms for three key zones in the north, central, and south, respectively. <div class="center"><img style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32a. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_v1_en-900x612.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32a. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div> <h3>Northern Peruvian Amazon</h3> <strong>Image 32b</strong> shows a zoom of the northern Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a pattern of small-scale deforestation along the rivers of Loreto. Additionally, in 2013, there were <strong>large-scale deforestation events</strong> for a cacao project located to the southeast of the city of Iquitos (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/united-cacao/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #27</a> for more details) and for oil palm plantations along the border of Loreto and San Martin regions (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image16-shanusi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #16</a> for more details). In 2015, the expansion of deforestation continued in these areas, but at a medium-scale. <div class="center"><img style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32b. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_n_v1_en-1500x780.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32b. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div> <h3>Central Peruvian Amazon</h3> <strong>Image 32c</strong> shows a zoom of the central Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a concentration of <strong>small- and medium-scale deforestation</strong> between northwest Ucayali and southeast Huánuco. Additionally, in 2013, there is <strong>large-scale deforestation</strong> for two new oil palm plantations located northeast of the city of Pucallpa (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image-4-oil-palm-projects-cause-deforestation-of-primary-forest-in-the-peruvian-amazon-part-1-nueva-requena/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #4</a> for more details). <div class="center"><img style="paggin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32c. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_c_v1_en-1500x780.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32c. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div> <h3>Southern Peruvian Amazon</h3> <strong>Image 32d</strong> shows a zoom of the southern Peruvian Amazon for 2013 (left panel) and 2015 (right panel). In general, there is a pattern of <strong>small- and medium-scale deforestation</strong> along the Interoceanic highway in Madre de Dios. Additionally, there is the persistence of <strong>large-scale deforestation</strong> in southern Madre de Dios related to illegal gold mining (see <a href="http://maaproject.org/2015/image12-lapampa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP #12</a> for more details). <div class="center"><img style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Image 32d. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Categ_13_15_s_v1_en-1500x780-1.jpg" width="100%" />Image 32d. Data: PNCB/MINAM, UMD/GLAD</div> <h3>Citation</h3> Finer M, Novoa S (2016) Large-scale vs. Small-scale Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. MAAP: 32.  <hr />  <div class="attribute">  This post originally appeared on <a href="http://maaproject.org/2016/scale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAAP</a>, which is a project of the <a href="http://www.amazonconservation.org/">Amazon Conservation Association</a> (ACA)—a Global Forest Watch <a href="http://content.globalforestwatch.org/2014/10/announcing-the-inaugural-recipients-of-the-small-grants-fund/">Small Grants Fund</a> recipient.  BANNER PHOTO: United Cacao clearing as seen on <a href="http://bit.ly/1STzoxc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Global Forest Watch</a>.  </div>  <hr />  <style type="text/css"></style>

In the previous MAAP #25 and MAAP #26, we illustrated deforestation hotspots in the Peruvian Amazon for the periods 2012-2014 and 2015*, respectively.

PARTNER POST: MAAP #32: LARGE-SCALE VS. SMALL-SCALE DEFORESTATION IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Commodities

Read about the role forests play in the production of commodities around the world.

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RSPO

RSPO | Global Forest Watch Blog

<p>Palm oil, the <a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/263937/vegetable-oils-global-consumption/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most widely consumed</a> vegetable oil in the world, is produced across a whopping 17 million hectares worldwide, an area larger than Germany. Most oil palm comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, with production increasing in Central Africa and Latin America. But exactly where this oil palm is being grown—and more importantly, how it’s being produced—is difficult to determine from the perspective of a corporate buyer. While some oil palm is grown sustainably, other plantations clear-cut forest and degrade ecosystems.  A new initiative from WRI and the <a href="http://www.rspo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)</a> aims to shed light on how individual oil palm concessions affect forests, information that can empower companies to manage their forests and supply chains more sustainably. <a href="http://commodities.globalforestwatch.org/">Global Forest Watch Commodities</a> (GFW-Commodities), a new platform produced by WRI and more than 40 partners, combines the RSPO’s maps of certified sustainable palm oil production sites with global forest data like tree cover loss alerts, locations of primary forests, and legal land classifications. Armed with GFW-Commodities, the new RSPO maps, and knowledge of their supply chains, <strong>companies can reduce the risk that the palm oil they purchase contributes to deforestation.</strong> </p>
<h3>A Need for Sustainable Palm Oil</h3>
<p> Palm oil production has <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/">increased tremendously</a> in recent years. The substance can now be found in a dizzying array of products, from dish soap to lipstick to muffins. While agricultural production of oil palm has helped boost economies and brought income and employment to poverty-stricken communities, it’s come at a cost.  Palm oil development has devastated significant areas of the world’s tropical forests, especially in Southeast Asia. Besides driving deforestation, unsustainable palm oil production can disenfranchise indigenous and local communities, generate waste, degrade air and water quality, and drain soil fertility.  The RSPO was <a href="http://www.rspo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">established</a> in 2004 to develop a standard for the production and trade of sustainable palm oil that doesn’t contribute to significant deforestation, environmental harm, or social conflict. In 2013, 9.7 million metric tons of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil were produced, representing about 18 percent of global palm oil production. RSPO membership today includes nearly 1,500 companies and organizations including palm oil growers, as well as traders, processors, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks, NGOs (including WRI), government agencies, and more. Lively debate among stakeholders within and outside the RSPO fosters innovation and continuous improvement of the standard. </p>
<h3>Why Is the New RSPO Data So Important?</h3>
<p> Good maps and information about who manages forest land can be notoriously difficult to come by. Information—especially about who has been granted licenses to develop palm oil, timber, and other commodities on forest land—is either not generated in a consistent way or is closely guarded by those who have it. <a href="http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/07/indonesia-haze-risk-will-remain-high-unless-ministers-keep-promises" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI analysis</a> has shown that companies, communities, NGOs, governments, and even different levels of government often have different information about forest use. For example, while the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry provides some information on where oil palm concessions are operating in the country, this information is not up-to-date. So when forest fires flared earlier this year, it was difficult to accurately identify the landholders responsible for the burning. Malaysia makes no information about palm oil concessions public.  RSPO’s <a href="http://www.wri.org/news/2014/06/release-first-detailed-public-maps-rspo-certified-palm-oil-concessions-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new maps</a>—combined with <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Global Forest Watch’s</a> near-real time deforestation alerts and other information—provides a much-needed level of transparency when it comes to the palm oil sector. This transparency can benefit businesses, civil society groups, and other forest stakeholders.  An increasing number of palm oil buyers have committed to “deforestation-free” supply chains, such as <a href="http://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living-2014/reducing-environmental-impact/sustainable-sourcing/sustainable-palm-oil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unilever</a>, <a href="http://www.nestle.com/media/Statements/Update-on-deforestation-and-palm-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nestlé</a>, and <a href="http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/mars-pia/our-supply-chain/palm-oil.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mars</a>. With RSPO data on GFW-Commodities, these companies can now verify and credibly demonstrate to their customers that the RSPO products they source meet sustainability standards. Civil society groups, consumers, and other stakeholders can act as watchdogs and use GFW-Commodities to hold companies accountable if their palm oil suppliers do degrade forest landscapes. The data can also help the RSPO itself more efficiently evaluate and respond to complaints lodged against certified members.  For example, in 2005, several organizations filed complaints against RSPO member Herakles Farms/SGSOC palm oil plantation, alleging that the proposed plantation would be built in an area of high-conservation value in Cameroon. RSPO officials and members then needed to spend several months and significant amounts of money investigating the claim before the company finally resigned membership. With GFW-Commodities, RSPO officials or members can easily zoom in on the <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/10/5.07/9.19/ALL/grayscale/loss/596,556?begin=2001&end=2013" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">30,000-hectare farm</a> in Cameroon, verify that it overlaps with areas of intact forests and is surrounded by protected forests, and see strong evidence of land-clearing (see screenshots below)—all within a few minutes. While on-the-ground audits remain the gold standard for these investigations, GFW-Commodities can help officials use their limited resources effectively. RSPO officials can also sign up to receive tree cover loss alerts in any area they choose. </p>
<div class="center">  <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-4155" alt="alt text" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities-1.png" width="100%" />  <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-469" alt="gfw_commodities_2" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_2.png" width="100%" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_2.png 1366w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_2-300x168.png 300w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_2-1024x575.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px" />  <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter  wp-image-470" alt="gfw_commodities_3" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_3.png" width="100%" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_3.png 1366w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_3-300x168.png 300w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_3-1024x575.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px" />  </div>
<h3>Where Do We Go from Here?</h3>
<p> RSPO’s data release is transformative, but it still represents just the tip of the information iceberg—even in the palm oil sector. For one thing, the maps, which show RSPO-certified areas as of May 2013, will need to be consistently updated and standardized.  The RSPO data is also limited to areas that have undergone certification. Over the coming months, we’re hoping to add more data to the GFW-Commodities platform, including: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Maps from all RSPO Members:</strong> While RSPO member organizations represent a very significant portion of worldwide palm oil production, not all members’ concessions are certified. Deforestation is likely a larger issue in non-certified areas. WRI, the Zoological Society of London, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, and New Britain Palm Oil Limited <a href="http://www.rspo.org/file/resolutions/GA10-Resolution6g.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently sponsored a resolution</a> to require all RSPO member companies to submit complete maps of all their growing operations, whether certified or not. These maps are due to the RSPO by September 2014, and we expect to publish them through GFW-Commodities.</li>
<li><strong>Maps from Smallholder Producers:</strong> The new RSPO maps only account for about 70 percent of the total estimated certified sustainable palm oil produced. Much of this gap is likely filled by production from associated smallholder producers not under the direct control of RSPO member companies.</li>
<li><strong>Maps of Other Forest Commodities:</strong> Palm oil is just one crop out of many that put pressure on the world’s forests. We hope the palm oil sector will demonstrate how transparency can support the objectives of governments, civil society organizations, and companies and encourage sectors like soy, beef, and wood pulp to make their maps publicly accessible.</li>
<li><strong>From Transparency to Sustainability:</strong> Transparency is all about trust. The disclosure of these maps help us understand where palm oil is being produced and by whom. This then enables us to further investigate how it is being produced and whether production is consistent with commitments that have been made. We are building analytical functionality into Global Forest Watch Commodities to support this kind of assessment.</li>
</ul>
<p> There is still a long way to go to make oil palm a truly sustainable crop across the world. But the steps taken by the RSPO to release concession data bodes well for the future. As more and more companies heed the call for transparency, we can look forward to a data-rich future with greater accountability, and hopefully, great sustainability.  </p>
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New Palm Oil Production Maps Mark a Milestone in Transparency

Palm oil, the <a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/263937/vegetable-oils-global-consumption/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most widely consumed</a> vegetable oil in the world, is produced across a whopping 17 million hectares worldwide, an area larger than Germany. Most oil palm comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, with production increasing in Central Africa and Latin America. But exactly where this oil palm is being grown—and more importantly, how it’s being produced—is difficult to determine from the perspective of a corporate buyer. While some oil palm is grown sustainably, other plantations clear-cut forest and degrade ecosystems.  A new initiative from WRI and the <a href="http://www.rspo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)</a> aims to shed light on how individual oil palm concessions affect forests, information that can empower companies to manage their forests and supply chains more sustainably. <a href="http://commodities.globalforestwatch.org/">Global Forest Watch Commodities</a> (GFW-Commodities), a new platform produced by WRI and more than 40 partners, combines the RSPO’s maps of certified sustainable palm oil production sites with global forest data like tree cover loss alerts, locations of primary forests, and legal land classifications. Armed with GFW-Commodities, the new RSPO maps, and knowledge of their supply chains, <strong>companies can reduce the risk that the palm oil they purchase contributes to deforestation.</strong> <h3>A Need for Sustainable Palm Oil</h3> Palm oil production has <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/">increased tremendously</a> in recent years. The substance can now be found in a dizzying array of products, from dish soap to lipstick to muffins. While agricultural production of oil palm has helped boost economies and brought income and employment to poverty-stricken communities, it’s come at a cost.  Palm oil development has devastated significant areas of the world’s tropical forests, especially in Southeast Asia. Besides driving deforestation, unsustainable palm oil production can disenfranchise indigenous and local communities, generate waste, degrade air and water quality, and drain soil fertility.  The RSPO was <a href="http://www.rspo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">established</a> in 2004 to develop a standard for the production and trade of sustainable palm oil that doesn’t contribute to significant deforestation, environmental harm, or social conflict. In 2013, 9.7 million metric tons of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil were produced, representing about 18 percent of global palm oil production. RSPO membership today includes nearly 1,500 companies and organizations including palm oil growers, as well as traders, processors, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks, NGOs (including WRI), government agencies, and more. Lively debate among stakeholders within and outside the RSPO fosters innovation and continuous improvement of the standard. <h3>Why Is the New RSPO Data So Important?</h3> Good maps and information about who manages forest land can be notoriously difficult to come by. Information—especially about who has been granted licenses to develop palm oil, timber, and other commodities on forest land—is either not generated in a consistent way or is closely guarded by those who have it. <a href="http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/07/indonesia-haze-risk-will-remain-high-unless-ministers-keep-promises" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI analysis</a> has shown that companies, communities, NGOs, governments, and even different levels of government often have different information about forest use. For example, while the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry provides some information on where oil palm concessions are operating in the country, this information is not up-to-date. So when forest fires flared earlier this year, it was difficult to accurately identify the landholders responsible for the burning. Malaysia makes no information about palm oil concessions public.  RSPO’s <a href="http://www.wri.org/news/2014/06/release-first-detailed-public-maps-rspo-certified-palm-oil-concessions-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new maps</a>—combined with <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Global Forest Watch’s</a> near-real time deforestation alerts and other information—provides a much-needed level of transparency when it comes to the palm oil sector. This transparency can benefit businesses, civil society groups, and other forest stakeholders.  An increasing number of palm oil buyers have committed to “deforestation-free” supply chains, such as <a href="http://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living-2014/reducing-environmental-impact/sustainable-sourcing/sustainable-palm-oil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unilever</a>, <a href="http://www.nestle.com/media/Statements/Update-on-deforestation-and-palm-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nestlé</a>, and <a href="http://www.mars.com/global/about-mars/mars-pia/our-supply-chain/palm-oil.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mars</a>. With RSPO data on GFW-Commodities, these companies can now verify and credibly demonstrate to their customers that the RSPO products they source meet sustainability standards. Civil society groups, consumers, and other stakeholders can act as watchdogs and use GFW-Commodities to hold companies accountable if their palm oil suppliers do degrade forest landscapes. The data can also help the RSPO itself more efficiently evaluate and respond to complaints lodged against certified members.  For example, in 2005, several organizations filed complaints against RSPO member Herakles Farms/SGSOC palm oil plantation, alleging that the proposed plantation would be built in an area of high-conservation value in Cameroon. RSPO officials and members then needed to spend several months and significant amounts of money investigating the claim before the company finally resigned membership. With GFW-Commodities, RSPO officials or members can easily zoom in on the <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/10/5.07/9.19/ALL/grayscale/loss/596,556?begin=2001&amp;end=2013" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">30,000-hectare farm</a> in Cameroon, verify that it overlaps with areas of intact forests and is surrounded by protected forests, and see strong evidence of land-clearing (see screenshots below)—all within a few minutes. While on-the-ground audits remain the gold standard for these investigations, GFW-Commodities can help officials use their limited resources effectively. RSPO officials can also sign up to receive tree cover loss alerts in any area they choose. <div class="center">  <img class="aligncenter  wp-image-4155" alt="alt text" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities-1.png" width="100%" />  <img class="aligncenter  wp-image-469" alt="gfw_commodities_2" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_2.png" width="100%" />  <img class="aligncenter  wp-image-470" alt="gfw_commodities_3" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/gfw_commodities_3.png" width="100%" />  </div> <h3>Where Do We Go from Here?</h3> RSPO’s data release is transformative, but it still represents just the tip of the information iceberg—even in the palm oil sector. For one thing, the maps, which show RSPO-certified areas as of May 2013, will need to be consistently updated and standardized.  The RSPO data is also limited to areas that have undergone certification. Over the coming months, we’re hoping to add more data to the GFW-Commodities platform, including: <ul> 	<li><strong>Maps from all RSPO Members:</strong> While RSPO member organizations represent a very significant portion of worldwide palm oil production, not all members’ concessions are certified. Deforestation is likely a larger issue in non-certified areas. WRI, the Zoological Society of London, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, and New Britain Palm Oil Limited <a href="http://www.rspo.org/file/resolutions/GA10-Resolution6g.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently sponsored a resolution</a> to require all RSPO member companies to submit complete maps of all their growing operations, whether certified or not. These maps are due to the RSPO by September 2014, and we expect to publish them through GFW-Commodities.</li> 	<li><strong>Maps from Smallholder Producers:</strong> The new RSPO maps only account for about 70 percent of the total estimated certified sustainable palm oil produced. Much of this gap is likely filled by production from associated smallholder producers not under the direct control of RSPO member companies.</li> 	<li><strong>Maps of Other Forest Commodities:</strong> Palm oil is just one crop out of many that put pressure on the world’s forests. We hope the palm oil sector will demonstrate how transparency can support the objectives of governments, civil society organizations, and companies and encourage sectors like soy, beef, and wood pulp to make their maps publicly accessible.</li> 	<li><strong>From Transparency to Sustainability:</strong> Transparency is all about trust. The disclosure of these maps help us understand where palm oil is being produced and by whom. This then enables us to further investigate how it is being produced and whether production is consistent with commitments that have been made. We are building analytical functionality into Global Forest Watch Commodities to support this kind of assessment.</li> </ul> There is still a long way to go to make oil palm a truly sustainable crop across the world. But the steps taken by the RSPO to release concession data bodes well for the future. As more and more companies heed the call for transparency, we can look forward to a data-rich future with greater accountability, and hopefully, great sustainability.  <style type="text/css"></style>

Palm oil, the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world, is produced across a whopping 17 million hectares worldwide, an area larger than Germany.

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PARTNER POST: MAAP #32: LARGE-SCALE VS. SMALL-SCALE DEFORESTATION IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

New Palm Oil Production Maps Mark a Milestone in Transparency