Research at Edge Hill University has created a spatial inventory of oil palm and peatland distributions, and quantified the global warming potential of the conversion process. This research, co-produced with local beneficiaries, is being used to determine peatland management and restoration practices.
Issue
Rapid expansion of oil palm plantation into Malaysia’s tropical forest is causing irreversible environmental damage, especially greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from converted peat swamp forest.
While there is general awareness about the widespread conversion of tropical forest to oil palm plantation, less is known about the precise spatial footprint of this process or the implications for climate change.
Approach
Geospatial analysis was conducted to map tropical forest/palm oil conversion at the regional and local scales to calculate regional greenhouse gas emissions from conversion.
Tropical forest/palm oil conversion is a contested subject where different stakeholder groups (e.g. environmental NGOs, governmental bodies, palm oil producers, local labourers) hold conflicting viewpoints. In anticipation of this issue, researchers committed to full and genuine co-production of research involving local participants and beneficiaries of findings.
Impact
The research helped change environmental management practice in Malaysia, for example, by identifying encroachment of oil palm plantation into protected peatland in North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest. This enabled targeted measures to tackle illegal smallholder oil cultivation.
Research findings have been embedded in publications from Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an influential NGO. RSPO published two manuals on best management practices to be used by more than 4000 members which control the production of more than 30% of the world’s palm oil.
More information
Institution: Edge Hill University
Researchers: Professor Paul Aplin, Dr Christopher Marston