Question about tropical oil palm trees

[Massacure]

Does their harvest harm the rainforest?

[Goathead]

1. Palm Trees

There are probably less Palm Trees in the rain forest than you might expect. This is not due to deforestation, it is just because they were never there. The Cocoanut Palm is traditionally found only in coastal areas. They are very well adapt and will grow in just about anything, sand, lava rock and are extremely drought resistant. Most places you see Cocoanut Palms are places where humans have brought them there. They are "farmed" and every part of the tree is used.

[Massacure]

2. Coconut palm? Is that the Elaeis guineensis?

I just found this website.

http://www.rainforestweb.org/Rainforest_Destruction/Agribusiness/Palm_Oil/?state=more

The reason I ask is because this is has my worried.

http://forums.biodieselnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3998

[NNadir]

3. It seems somewhat absurd to grow trees for oil. Oil from trees is

acceptable as a byproduct, but growing trees for oil is rather silly.