All things considered, oil palm production is emitting Carbon

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/index.php?q=node/378

All things considered, oil palm production is emitting Carbon

Writer:
Kate Langford

A recent pilot study in Indonesia draws attention to the importance of considering the full life cycle of oil palm production when estimating Carbon emissions.

The study, carried out by the World Agroforestry Centre in collaboration with the Indonesian Palm Oil Commission (IPOC), Dewan Minyak Sawit Indonesia, and Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit, is based on data collected at two sites; one in Sumatra with a plantation that was established in the 1990s and the other in Kalimantan where the plantation was established in the early 2000s.

Among the recommendations of the study is that in order to prevent a Carbon debt, conversion to oil palm should only occur from shrub and grassland areas with above-ground Carbon stocks of less than 40 tons of Carbon per hectare.

With oil palm being considered for use as biodiesel to reduce dependency and emissions from fossil fuels, this study demonstrates how all stages in the process of producing oil palm need to be taken into account, especially the initial conversion or land clearing which occurs to make way for the plantation.

…

http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Publications/files/leaflet/LE0153-09.PDF">Read the summary brochure.

Related story:
http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0806-palm_oil.html">http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0806-palm_oil.html