In West Kalimantan, Indonesia, villagers try to combine benefits of oil palm and forest conservation. By applying for a village forest permit, the villagers prevented their forest from being converted into an oil palm plantation. But they did not ban oil palm completely. With this permit, they are legally allowed to use and manage 1 070 ha of forest on the hills adjacent to the village. While setting aside a part of their land for conservation, they reserved another part for oil palm. “The oil palm companies are like our godfathers,” says Victor Sryianto, the village head of Laman Satong, “They provide us with employment and income.” The villagers – organized in cooperatives – have entered into partnerships with 2 large oil palm companies.

Read the full article: https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/viewpoint/village-forests-in-an-oil-palm-landscape-can-they-co-exist/

Source: Global Land Scape Forum, www.thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org