Denuded Logic A key argument by some Europeans in both opposing palm oil imports, voting against a trade agreement with Brazil, and seeking self-sufficiency in plant proteins is deforestation. Politicians are reminded that Brazil’s rainforests are the earth’s “lungs” and Southeast Asia is worsening climate change by burning down its trees to plant palm plantations. But the data appears to tell a different story.  While Brazil’s forested area declined by 9.9 percent since 1990, the EU’s tree covered land mass has declined by 14 percent. Granted, most member states have increased forested area but some like Greece pull down the average. Indonesia has had a larger decline in rainforests but Malaysia f...