Oil palm and the environment: a Malaysian perspective

The Malaysian oil palm industry has seen unprecedented growth in the last 4 decades to emerge as the leading agricultural industry in the country. From a mere 55 000 ha in 1960, the area under the crop has grown more than 50-fold to 2.82 million ha in 1997. Approximately 60 000 ha of old oil palm are replanted annually. Presently about half of the agricultural land in Malaysia is under oil palm and the area is expanding. Malaysia is today the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil. In 1997, the country produced 9.07 million t of crude palm oil, exporting the bulk of its products and earning the country M$12.9 billion in revenue. The industry has always placed strong emphasis on research and development of the various aspects of oil palm cultivation and management, from planting techniques, waste management technologies, and byproduct utilization to palm oil product development. Most of the present agronomic and waste management practices are based on long-term trial results, emphasizing high sustainable productivity and environmental conservation. Oil palm cultivation and processing raises environmental issues. This book addresses the status of the oil palm industry with respect to its compatibility with the environment and its sustainability. It discusses the environmental issues associated with the cultivation and processing of oil palm and measures taken to minimize their impact on the soil, water and atmospheric environment. Further, since oil palm cultivation is often associated with destruction of the rain forest, a chapter is also included on the comparative ecophysiology of oil palm and tropical rain forest. The book aims to be as comprehensive as possible in coverage and should serve as a useful reference. The data compiled should also facilitate a complete life cycle assessment of palm oil, as well as assist plantation groups in achieving ISO 14000 certification. The book is arranged in 9 sections, with 21 chapters by various authors: A. Oil palm and the rain forest, (1) Socio-economic considerations in the development of jungle to oil palm, and (2) Comparative ecophysiology of oil palm and tropical rain forest; B. Biomass resources, (3) Biomass production in the oil palm industry; C. Sustainable field practices, (4) Cultural practices and their impact, and (5) Integrated pest and disease management and associated impact of pesticides; D. Effluent treatment, (6) Treatment of palm oil mill effluent, and (7) Treatment technology for palm oil refinery effluent; E. Nutrient recycling and soil conditioners, (8) The zero burn technique of oil palm cultivation, (9) Underplanting - an economic and ecologically sound technique of replanting, (10) Land application of palm oil mill effluent, (11) Empty fruit bunches as mulch, and (12) Production of organic fertilisers and soil conditioners; F. Bulk lignocellulosic materials for industrial uses, (13) Manufacture of building materials from oil palm biomass, and (14) Pulp and paper from oil palm biomass; G. By-products for animal feed and other uses, (15) By-products as animal feedstuffs, and (16) By-products for chemical, microbiological and other uses; and H. Biofuel, (17) Renewable Energy from oil palm industry; I. Environmental legislations, (18) Environmental Quality Act, (19) Factories and Machinery (Noise Exposure) Regulations, (20) Land Conservation Act, and (21) The Pesticide Act.