The livelihood impacts of oil palm: smallholders in Indonesia

摘要: The biodiversity and climate consequences of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) expansion across South East Asia have received considerable attention. human side the issue, highlighted with reports negative livelihood outcomes rights abuses by companies, has also led to controversy. Oil related conflicts been widely documented in Indonesia yet uptake farmers extensive. An assessment impacts development, including sources conflict, is needed shed light on apparent contradiction between these evident enthusiasm join craze thereby informing future expansion. We assessed impact development economic wellbeing rural Indonesia. found that many smallholders benefited substantially from higher returns land labour afforded but district authorities smallholder cooperatives play key roles realisation benefits. Conflicts communities companies resulted almost entirely lack transparency, absence free, prior, informed consent unequal benefit sharing, exacerbated clear rights. make specific recommendations improve present situation foster establishment friendly production regimes. set continue. If environmental standards can be raised policy interventions targeted at broader social this may achieved significant large numbers smallholders.