How much land is available for sustainable palm oil?

Current consumption of palm oil accounts for one third the growing world demand vegetable oil. Amidst burgeoning industry, huge ecological costs have been accrued within just three decades due to rapid expansion in many parts world. Many plantations are linked deforestation, biodiversity losses, land use change emissions, among other problems. Total replacement could result even greater adverse environmental consequences as alternative crops will require more land. To satisfy demands a sustainable manner, any new must be located environmentally-benign lands. This study identifies and quantifies potentially available lands Malaysia Indonesia through novel fuzzy GIS-based suitability analysis. Three maps were generated: biophysically suitable land, based on optimal conditions cultivation, excluding peatlands existing protected areas; environmentally further forest cover; uses. About 4.5 million hectares identified that provide 1.3 tonnes per year However, most these areas fragmented scattered throughout entire archipelago, which pose economic socio-political hurdles developers With affordable fairer certification schemes, can achieved by smallholders Yield improvement restoration should focus revitalised agriculture strategic conservation policies, respectively. The valuable policy insights into possibility future starting point on-the-ground assessment verification.