Recent expansion of oil palm plantations into carbon-rich forests

Deforestation arising from oil palm expansion in the tropics poses threats to forest ecosystem services. Using high-resolution satellite maps, we show that oil palm expansion into forests in Indonesia and Malaysia during 2001-2015 caused a forest biomass loss of 50.2 +/- 21.9 TgC yr(-1). Large-scale plantations dominated the expansion area. But the encroachment of oil palm plantations from low to high biomass density forests is particularly obvious for small-scale plantations after 2007. This work provides new data for targeting policies to restrict oil palm encroachment into carbon-rich regions, including into protected areas. Deforestation caused by oil palm plantations is threatening biomass carbon sequestration across the tropics. Although large-scale plantations dominate this expansion, smallholder operations responding to high export prices are preferentially eating into mature, carbon-rich forests that promise high yields.

Automated summary

Oil palm expansion in Indonesia and Malaysia resulted in significant deforestation and forest biomass loss during 2001-2015, with large-scale plantations dominating the expansion area. However, after 2007, the encroachment of oil palm plantations from low to high biomass density forests by small-scale plantations became more evident. This study provides new data for policymakers to target strategies to restrict oil palm encroachment into carbon-rich regions and protected areas.