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

Elsa M. Ordway (), Rosamond L. Naylor, Raymond N. Nkongho and Eric F. Lambin
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Elsa M. Ordway: Stanford University
Rosamond L. Naylor: Stanford University
Raymond N. Nkongho: Stanford University
Eric F. Lambin: Stanford University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07915-2

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