Oil Palm Plantations, Forest Conservation and Indigenous Peoples in West Papua Province: What Lies Ahead?

Yubelince Y Runtuboi,Dwiko B Permadi,Ahmad Maryudi,Muhammad Alif K Sahide

doi:10.24259/fs.v5i1.11343

Yubelince Y Runtuboi, Dwiko B Permadi + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v5i1.11343

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Abstract

Oil palm plantations are currently expanding to the eastern part of Indonesia, especially in West Papua province. Many oil palm permits issued in West Papua occupy intact biodiversity-rich forest areas which have essential value for indigenous Papuans' socio-cultural life. This article discusses expansion of oil palm plantations in West Papua province, and its impacts on forests and indigenous people. It also assesses whether the plantations fit the Special Autonomy Law and Sustainable Development Regulation goals of the province. In general, plantations are being established in forest areas, and further planned expansion threatens intact and biodiversity-rich forests. In addition, plantation development rarely considers the socio-cultural issues of indigenous Papuans. As a result, customary rights and institutions are commonly overlooked, undermined, or violated. Oil palm plantations are not necessarily compatible with sustainable development regulation goals, and need to reconcile its overall economic and conservation agenda.

Highlights

Oil palm plantations are expanding rapidly in Indonesia (Andrianto, et al, 2019; Purnomo, et al, 2020; Ramdani & Lounela, 2020)
Oil palm plantations contribute to the absorption of labor and the availability of sources of income, they cannot replace the value of forests for indigenous peoples who still have ecological, social and cultural ties to forest and land areas (Acosta & Curt, 2019; Matualage, et al, 2019)
The development of oil palm under the pretext of poverty alleviation tends to jeopardize the role, authority, and the overall existence of indigenous Papuans. This has resulted in customary land enclosures, violations of customary rights and the ecological, economic, and socio-cultural burdens that indigenous peoples are facing as a result of the loss of forest and land resources

Summary

Introduction

Oil palm plantations are expanding rapidly in Indonesia (Andrianto, et al, 2019; Purnomo, et al, 2020; Ramdani & Lounela, 2020). As of 2018, the total area of oil palm plantations reached nearly 15 million hectares (Directorate General of Estate Crops, 2019). This is mainly driven by increasing demands on palm oil in global markets (Lambin & Meyfroidt, 2011). The Directorate General of Estate Crops (2019) indicates that Sulawesi and Papua (Papua and West Papua Provinces) have substantial land areas targeted or allocated for plantation expansion. This paper discusses oil palm expansion in West Papua Province, and analyzes the potential adverse impacts on frontier forests. With a percentage of forest cover >75% in West Papua Province, oil palm plantations will inevitably focus on transforming lowland forest areas into cultivated areas (Gaveau, 2019; Namkhan, et al, 2020; Susanti & Maryudi, 2016). At the end of this paper, we propose ways to accommodate local interests, including ways to consider integrating locally-adapted social forestry schemes

Oil Palm Expansion in West Papua’s Forests

PT Mitra Silva Lestari and Sougb tribe

Plantations and Sustainable Development Pledges

Findings

Conclusions