The oil palm is a remarkable tree, with an incredibly diverse fruit that can be used for many different things - from shampoo and soap to toothpaste, crisps and chocolate. Unfortunately, the spread of this remarkable plant is leading to the destruction of the rainforests, particularly in Borneo and Sumatra. So what can we do? Firstly, learn where your food is coming from. Pay attention to the labels and look out for sustainable palm oil. We can't get rid of palm oil altogether as it is in countless products, and many of the alternatives would be worse. But there are different ways of making palm oil, some of which will not completely destroy the forests. The next thing you could do is buy some forest for yourself. It is possible to fundraise, to get money to purchase a piece of perfect rainforest and protect it. So why not see if you can wash cars, and buy a piece of forest the size of your classroom, the size of your assembly hall, possibly even the size of your school. Finally, think about how you use wood and paper. Make sure you recycle and be sure to think about your impact on the world in every single thing you do. If we don't, then rainforests could be condemned to history.
