The Daily The Sunday Read: ‘The Case of the Vanishing Jungle’
Aug 22, 2021
Matt Leggett, a senior advisor for the Wildlife Conservation Society, shares vital insights into the alarming deforestation impacting Sumatran tiger habitats. He reveals how the booming coffee industry threatens this iconic species despite reports of increased tiger numbers. Leggett discusses the shocking visuals of shrinking forests and undercover findings on small coffee farms harming biodiversity. The podcast intertwines personal farmer stories with the urgent call for sustainable practices, highlighting the complex relationship between conservation needs and agricultural demands.
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The Vanishing Jungle
- Matt Leggett noticed a discrepancy between rising tiger numbers and shrinking forest size in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
- This prompted an undercover investigation into the cause of deforestation.
Historical Context
- The Dutch East India Company's legacy of exploitative coffee production continues to influence modern multinational corporations.
- Western capitalism's dependence on caffeine fuels this demand.
Uncovering the Coffee Trail
- Leggett investigated the illegal coffee trade within the park, tracing it from small farms to major exporters like Nestle.
- His team used undercover researchers posing as college students to gather data.