I learned about many things in the duration of this course. The main focus was the deforestation in Sumatra, Indonesia. Sumatra is the island with the most biodiversity on the planet; a square meter of forest contains 200 different species of plants. The island has been on the equator since the division of Pangaea. It is the island that has been under the equator the longest. This and the rich, fertile volcanic soil of the island creates the ideal environment for many plants and animals. However, this once fertile, beautiful land has been subject to mass deforestation leading to the loss of 82% of its once abundant rainforests. Palm trees have been farmed all over the globe to increase the output of palm oil, replacing nature rainforests. Palm oil is used in many of not all beauty products and in numerous food products; including the infamous KitKat.
The palm trees are not only affecting the rainforest, but the animals that reside in them. The Sumatran Orangutan is one of the only two species of Orangutans on the globe. It is currently endangered due to deforestation. The lack of rainforest is destroying the noble creature’s natural habitat, pushing them to the brink of wiping out. The only Orangutan-filled parts of Sumatra are 12 isolated patches of rainforest. Since there are no pathways of trees or forest to connect these patches, the Orangutan populations are in danger of inbreeding. This also has a negative effect on the population. Another large reason for decrease in Orangutan population decrease is poaching. Orangutans are very valuable on black markets. Poachers will shoot the Orangutan mother in order to steal the infant and sell it. Many infants are either hit by the bullet or die in the fall. This could be considered the most disturbing factor.
Many different projects are underway to prevent the extinction of the Orangutan. Some involve protesting against byproducts of palm oil or refusing to buy these products. Others involve teaching farmers to replants palm trees rather than deforesting their beautiful island. Other, more direct solutions involve planting trees connecting the patches of Orangutan territory. Other people would say that the most effective tactic would be to inform the locals of the ecologic goldmine on which they live. They are living in the most biodiverse land of the planet; and they should therefore treat it as a national treasure. The more aggressive resolutions concerned attacking or shooting poachers who killed Orangutan mothers in order to retrieve an Orangutan infant and sell in on the black market.
During this trip, I felt a lot closer to the environment and the ecology around the globe. I realized that there is more than the world of technology and media; nature was here way before humans, and might be here after us; if we let it. Every bit helps, humankind must unite to help preserve all of nature, not just North Sumatra.