Why can't wildlife survive in rubber plantations?
Answers
Answer:
rubber plantations
Explanation:
A new study published today predicts that up to 8.5 million hectares of additional rubber plantations will be required to meet demand by 2024.
But expansion on this scale will have 'catastrophic' biodiversity impacts, with globally threatened unique species and ecosystems all put under threat.
Researchers say that the extent of the problem is comparable to oil palm and that it is closely linked to the growing tyre market.
They urge manufacturers such as Goodyear and Michelin to support and strengthen sustainability initiatives and drive change in the industry.
Lead researcher Eleanor Warren-Thomas, from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said: "The tyre industry consumes 70 per cent of all natural rubber grown, and rising demand for vehicle and aeroplane tyres is behind the recent expansion of plantations. But the impact of this is a loss of tropical biodiversity.
"We predict that between 4.3 and 8.5 million hectares of new plantations will be required to meet projected demand by 2024. This will threaten significant areas of Asian forest, including many protected areas.