Palm oil not the only driver of forest loss in Indonesia

Large-scale agriculture, primarily for growing oil palms, remains a major cause of deforestation in Indonesia but its impact has diminished in recent years as other natural and human causes emerge, a new study finds. These causes, which vary by location and over time, include the conversion of forests to grasslands by El Niño-fueled wildfires; small-scale farming; and mining. Policymakers and conservationists need to address these varied causes when devising new programs and practices. …read more