Seeds of Destruction. Expansion of industrial oil palm in the Congo Basin: potential impacts on forests and people

Summary

This investigation reveals the impacts of biggest palm oil plantations in Congo Basin on forests and local people.  

Half a million hectares of industrial oil palm expansion projects are getting underway in the Congo Basin rainforest, which will result in a fivefold increase in the area of active large-scale palm plantations in the region. 

Approximately two-thirds of the total forest area of the Congo Basin’s forests – 115 million hectares – is believed to have suitable soil and climate for growing oil palms. Around 1.6 million hectares of new oil palm developments have been announced since 2009 , and palm oil companies are actively searching for larger areas.