Nonhuman primates, our closest living relatives, face an extinction crisis. Over 65% of the world’s 514 primate species are threatened and 85% have declining populations. This includes three Critically Endangered species of Asian apes, the orangutans. A major threat to orangutan survivorship is deforestation and the conversion of their natural habitat for the production of palm oil. In order to protect orangutans, we need to boycott products that contain non-sustainable palm oil and only purchase products that contain sustainable or RSPO certified palm oil. In order to be RSPO certified, companies must agree to protect tropical forests and local biodiversity.
Author: Dr. Paul A. Garber
Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois USA
- Dr. Paul Garber Information
- SciPod: Improving Human Health and Wellbeing Will Protect Primate Populations
- PeerJ: Current and future trends in socio-economic, demographic and governance factors affecting global primate conservation
- SciPod: China Must Act Immediately to Protect its Primate Populations from Extinction