Work

Oil palm expansion and deforestation in Southwest Cameroon associated with proliferation of informal mills

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Oil palm expansion resulted in 2 million hectares (Mha) of forest loss globally in 2000-2010. Despite accounting for 24% (4.5 Mha) of the world's total oil palm cultivated area, expansion dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa have been overlooked. We show that in Southwest Cameroon, a top producing region of Africa, 67% of oil palm expansion from 2000-2015 occurred at the expense of forest. Contrary to the publicized narrative of industrial-scale expansion, most oil palm expansion and associated deforestation is occurring outside large agro-industrial concessions. Expansion and deforestation carried out by non-industrial producers is occurring near low-efficiency informal mills, unconstrained by the location of high-efficiency company-owned mills. These results highlight the key role of a booming informal economic sector in driving rapid land use change. High per capita consumption and rising palm oil demands in sub-Saharan Africa spotlight the need to consider informal economies when identifying regionally relevant sustainability pathways.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07915-2

Authors: Elsa M. Ordway, Rosamond L. Naylor, Raymond N. Nkongho, Eric F. Lambin

Institutions: Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Buea, UCLouvain

Language: English

Topic: Oil Palm Production and Sustainability

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Decent work and economic growth, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,200