The human cost of palm oil16 April 2008
Losing Ground is a new report by Friends of the Earth, Sawit Watch and LifeMosaic.
It reveals how Indonesian government policies and palm oil industry practices are harming the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples.
Habitats and communities destroyed
Many people depend on the forests for their livelihoods, but have lost both land and jobs when their land has been taken over by companies.
Land that would have passed to future generations is gone.
The palm oil industry also leaves many indigenous communities without clean water due to water shortages and pollution.
We run out of water, it is difficult for people to find clean water in the dry season.
Smallholder, West Kalimantan
Persistent flooding is also more of problem with plantations affecting natural drainage patterns.
Forest destruction also threatens traditional culture and practices.
Large-scale deforestation is also destroying the habitat of endangered wildlife including the orang-utan and the Sumatran tiger.
Rights not respected
Communities have few opportunities to exercise their rights and little access to justice.
Demonstrations and land occupations are common, often resulting in violence from armed security and police forces.
There are numerous conflicts between communities and companies over land or broken promises.
False promises
Indonesian law allows companies to take over land of indigenous people.
They had promised us jobs but there aren't that many. Basically, the only prospect we have is as casual labourers.
Villager, West Kalimantan
Sustainable palm oil?
For palm oil to be produced sustainably:
- Regulations must be tighter.
- National laws must be obeyed.
- There must be community consent.
The EU target to increase agrofuel use is misguided, risking environmental damage and human rights abuses on an even bigger scale.
Further information
Executive Summary - Losing Ground: The human rights impacts of oil palm plantation expansion in Indonesia
(PDF† 153K) February 2008
This summary highlights the importance of these findings to policy makers in Europe and argues that in the face of such evidence, targets to increase agrofuel use in the UK and the rest of the EU are misguided, risking environmental damage and human rights abuses on an even bigger scale.
Losing Ground: The human rights impacts of oil palm plantation expansion in Indonesia
(PDF† 1.373M) February 2008
This report by Friends of the Earth, Sawit Watch and LifeMosaic has revealed how Indonesian government policies and palm oil industry practices are harming the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples.
Introduction to the film "Palmed Off"
Agrofuels: Fuelling or Fooling Europe?
(PDF† 174K) October 2007
Friends of the Earth Europe's position on agrofuels/ biofuels.
'Green fuels' could be bad for the environment
April 2007
Press release on biofuels jointly issued by Greenpeace, RSPB, WWF and Friends of the Earth.
The use of palm oil for biofuel and as biomass for energy
(PDF† 67K) August 2006
Friends of the Earth's position on the use of palm oil for biofuel and as biomass for energy.
†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.
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