This is one of the main reasons for the likely extinction of the Sumatran tiger: legal and illegal forest clearance (here in Aceh Province, northern Sumatra) to make way for oil-palm plantations.
Palm oil is a ubiquitous ingredient in about one in ten of the products we buy, including biscuits, cereals, chocolate, toothpaste and cosmetics. It is also used as a biofuel. Industrial-scale plantations now cover much of the island, and forest clearance is continuing, even in protected areas.
USA
Steve became a National Geographic photojournalist in 1991 and specialises in photographing big cats. He lectures on photography and conservation issues, selling out venues from the Sydney Opera House in Australia to the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Canada. He won the grand prize for Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.
