New Threat to Orangutans in Borneo

Interesting story on the BBC from their "our Correspondent" programme. Now that would be a fascinating assignment.

The rapid growth in demand for Palm oil is putting the habitat of the Orangutan under renewed pressure, and this raises and interesting point. Those of us in the affluent west have a nice comfortable viewpoint from which to tell the residents of Borneo that they shouldn't cut down the rainforests in which the Orngatans live, yet how many British or American Companies would hesitate if in the same position?

The question is how do people in the west who care to preserve these forests do so? In theory it shouldn't cost that much to buy the whole lot, but it is never that easy. Political pressure can dissuade the Indonesian Government from reducing the national parks, but it is difficult, especially in such remote areas, to enforce theoretical boundaries, particularly when such large amounts of money may be at stake.