Environmental, Economic, and Social Consequences of the Oil Palm Boom

2020 | journal article; research paper. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.

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​Environmental, Economic, and Social Consequences of the Oil Palm Boom​
Qaim, M. ; Sibhatu, K. T. ; Siregar, H. & Grass, I. ​ (2020) 
Annual Review of Resource Economics12(1) pp. 321​-344​.​ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-110119-024922 

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Authors
Qaim, Matin ; Sibhatu, Kibrom T. ; Siregar, Hermanto; Grass, Ingo 
Abstract
Rising global demand for vegetable oil during the last few decades has led to a drastic increase in the land area under oil palm. Especially in Southeast Asia, the oil palm boom has contributed to economic growth, but it has also spurred criticism about negative environmental and social effects. Here, we discuss palm oil production and consumption trends and review environmental, economic, and social consequences in different parts of the world. The oil palm expansion has contributed to tropical deforestation and associated losses in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Simultaneously, it has increased incomes, generated employment, and reduced poverty among farm and nonfarm households. Around 50% of the worldwide oil palm land is managed by smallholders. Sustainability trade-offs between preserving global public environmental goods and private economic benefits need to be reduced. We discuss policy implications related to productivity growth, rainforest protection, mosaic landscapes, land property rights, sustainability certification, and smallholder inclusion, among others.
Issue Date
2020
Journal
Annual Review of Resource Economics 
Project
SFB 990: Ökologische und sozioökonomische Funktionen tropischer Tieflandregenwald-Transformationssysteme (Sumatra, Indonesien) 
SFB 990 | B | B09: Oberirdische Biodiversitätsmuster und Prozesse in Regenwaldtransformations-Landschaften 
SFB 990 | C | C07: Einflussfaktoren von Landnutzungswandel und sozioökonomische Auswirkungen für ländliche Haushalte 
Organization
Fakultät für Agrarwissenschaften ; Department für Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften ; Abteilung Agrarökologie ; Department für Agrarökonomie und Rurale Entwicklung 
ISSN
1941-1340
eISSN
1941-1359
Language
English
Subject(s)
sfb990_journalarticles

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