INDONESIA. Pematangsianstar, Sumatra. 1998. With annual production of four million tons, Indonesia is the world's second largest producer of palm oil, nest only to MalaysiaÕs annual production of eight million tons. A strong demand exists for palm oil today because it is low in cholesterol. The trees from which palm oil I extracted are between five and twenty-five years old. After twenty-five years the trees are cut down and seedlings are once again planted. Palm tree groves require a great deal of labor. Also, there is growing concern about the random development of palm tree plantations and the negative influence they may have on the regionÕs ecological chain.