SOCFINâs African Empire of Colonial Oppression: Billionaires Profit from Palm Oil and Rubber Exploitation
An investigation by Bloomberg exposed that despite being RSPO members, #SOCFIN plantations in #WestAfrica are the epicentre of #humanrights abuses, sexual coercion, environmental destruction, and #landgrabbing. Operating in #Liberia, #Ghana, #Nigeria, and beyond, SOCFINâs #rubber and #palmoil plantations continue historical colonial legacies of exploitation. Despite widespread evidence of abuse and deforestation, SOCFIN and its partners benefit from weak sustainability certifications such as #FSC and #RSPO. Europe and the US buy products directly linked to these violations, greenwashing the destruction in the process. Indigenous communities and workers are actively resisting this huge injustice âThey seek proper redress in the form of stricter #EUDR regulations and better protections of their health, livelihoods and families. Consumers can boycott palm oil and rubber in solidarity. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
According to Bloombergâs extensive report published in April 2025, SOCFIN plantations in Liberia and Ghana are sites of widespread sexual coercion, rape and sexual abuse.
Women workers at the Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) plantation, one of SOCFINâs largest operations, routinely face demands for sex from supervisors as a condition for securing daily work. Women like Rebecca (a pseudonym) describe daily harassment and abuse, forced to accept demands out of economic necessity. Contract workers earn as little as $3.50 a day and face threats of dismissal if they refuse sexual advances.
Similar accounts emerge from SOCFINâs Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC), recently sold after violent worker protests over labour abuses, inadequate medical care, and poor housing conditions. Women workers have described supervisors openly demanding sexual favours in exchange for continued employment. Mamie, a former SRC worker, described being violently raped by her supervisor after repeatedly refusing his advances. Such experiences remain common, despite superficial anti-harassment measures like âNo Sexual Harassmentâ signs erected by the company (Bloomberg, 2025).
This neo-colonial exploitation is glaringly evident in Nigeria, where SOCFINâs subsidiary, Okumu Oil Palm Company, operates 19,062 hectares of palm plantations and 7,335 hectares of rubber plantations. Palm Oil Detectives (2024) documented widespread displacement of local Indigenous communities due to plantation expansion. Villages such as Lemon, Agbeda, and Oweike have been forcibly dismantled, leaving hundreds homeless. The affected communities received no compensation or consultationâviolating international human rights standards on Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Austin Lemon, whose family established Lemon village in 1969, recounted witnessing his ancestral land seized by SOCFIN and converted into plantations without consent or compensation. The trauma from losing their homes, livelihoods, and ancestral heritage remains profound, with many residents still unable to recover decades later.
In Ghana, SOCFINâs Plantations Socfin Ghana (PSG) has systematically destroyed vital rainforests, despite clear warnings from environmental assessments. PSG admitted clearing over 1,089 hectares of natural forest between 2012 and 2016. The loss of biodiversity and increased carbon emissions from these activities directly exacerbate the climate crisis, severely impacting local rainfall patterns and agricultural productivity. Farmers around PSGâs plantations suffer reduced yields, poverty, and food insecurity.
SOCFIN and its partners rely heavily on weak and ineffective sustainability schemes like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). But investigations repeatedly reveal these certifications as ineffectual greenwashing tools. For example, SOCFINâs Cameroon plantationsâRSPO-certifiedâface lawsuits alleging severe environmental damage and community displacement. Water pollution tests conducted near these plantations revealed dangerous contamination levels, threatening public health (Bloomberg, 2025).
Communities across West Africa resist despite enormous personal risk. Liberian union leader Mary Boimah was jailed after protests against SRCâs labour conditions. Nigerian community member Iyabo Batu was shot by SOCFIN-affiliated security personnel while protesting environmental contamination and blocked access to her village. Despite these risks, communities persist in their demands for justice, compensation, and the return of their lands.
SOCFINâs stated commitments to human rights and sustainability remain hollow. Decades of documented abuses, superficial responses to audits, and persistent denial illustrate systemic failure and wilful negligence. As long as global markets reward SOCFINâs rubber and palm oil, the cycle of violence and exploitation will continue.
The time has come to demand real accountability. Regulators and law-makers in the EU and USA must recognise their complicity in human rights abuses and ecocide in palm oil and rubber supply chains. Until this time, people and landscapes will continue to suffer from forced labour, sexual coercion, and environmental destruction. SOCFINâs ecocide and human rights abusesâmust end now.
Palm Oil Detectives. (2024, July 31). Socfinâs Destructive Empire: Palm Oil Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses in West Africa. Retrieved from palmoildetectives.com/2024/07/âŠ
After wildfires, Belizeâs indigenous people rebuild stronger based on âseâ komonilâ: reciprocity, solidarity, gender equity, togetherness and community.
Colonial palm oil and sugarcane causing the loss of West Papuansâ cultural identity. Land grabs force communities from forests, threatening Noken weaving
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
Indigenous Melanesian women in West Papua fight land seizures for palm oil and sugar plantations, protecting their ancestral rights. Join #BoycottPalmOil
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
French industrial group Bollore on Friday reached a settlement over a decade-old corruption case in Togo, prosecutors said, but a separate plea deal with three top company executives was thrown out by a judge.
Colonial Palm Oil Threatens Ancient Noken Weaving in West Papua
A powerful new indigenous art exhibition has highlighted the tragic loss of #WestPapuaâs cultural identity due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #sugarcane monoculture plantations. A situation perpetuated by the illegal Indonesian colonisation of Melanesia. The ancient Melanesian tradition of noken weaving is under threat, as military-backed land grabs force Indigenous Muyu communities from their forests. Protect people and culture, when you shop make sure you #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights #IndigenousRights
Asia Pacific Report. (2025, March 28). Researcher warns over West Papuan deforestation impact on traditional noken weaving. Evening Report. eveningreport.nz/2025/03/28/reâŠ
West Papuan doctoral candidate Veronika T. Kanem has issued a stark warning about the cultural and ecological destruction unfolding in Indonesia-occupied West Papua. As the region faces what may be the worldâs largest deforestation projectâtwo million hectares for palm oil and sugarcaneâcenturies-old Indigenous traditions are being pushed to the edge of existence.
Veronika T. Kanem, whose exhibition âNoken/Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papuaâ opened at Auckland University, says the forced removal of her people from their forests has endangered not only biodiversity but the sacred art of noken weavingâa practice deeply embedded in the identity and social fabric of her fatherâs tribe, the Muyu.
Known locally as âmen,â the noken is more than a string bag. Made from inner fibres of the genemo tree and other natural materials, noken symbolises a womanâs womb, a vessel of life used in ceremonies, food gathering, child-rearing, and cultural gift-giving. It holds economic, spiritual, and ancestral significance across Melanesia.
Now, industrial agriculture and military occupation threaten the entire cultural landscape. These new plantations are not only destroying forests; they are severing communities from their knowledge systems, their land, and each other. Kanemâs research applies Indigenous Melanesian methodologies, using the act of noken weaving as a metaphor for knowledge, kinship, and resistance. Her work captures the lived experience of displacement and climate injustice at the intersection of colonial occupation, corporate extraction, and Indigenous resilience.
The Auckland exhibition also screened a documentary showcasing noken weaving traditions from across West Papua, including Asmat, Nabire, and Wamena. Speakers at the event, including Pacific scholars and artists, praised the project as a vital act of cultural preservation and defiance.
As Indonesia accelerates its colonial development schemes, the voices of West Papuans like Kanem are essential. Indigenous peoples must lead solutions to environmental destruction. Without indigenous justice, there can be no climate repair.
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
In the colonised region of #WestPapua, Indigenous Melanesian womenâs rights are being forgotten as companies and the Indonesian government seizes ancestral land for palm oil and sugar cane plantations â without ownersâ consent.âŠ
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmentalâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Evening Report Provides daily analysis of geopolitics, politics, business, the economy and news. Evening Report also publishes and webcasts authoritative podcasts that analyse global issues and events.
In the wake of the worst wildfires in living memory in Mexico and Central America in 2024, news outlets were looking for someone to blame. Howler monkeys and many species of parrots perished in the blazes. Slash and burn farming practices by Belize‘s indigenous communities were singled out as a primary cause. Yet this knee-jerk reaction is not evidence based and doesn’t take into account forces like corporate landgrabbing for mining and agribusinesses like meat, soy and
... Show more...
Indigenous Peoples Fight Climate Change
In the wake of the worst wildfires in living memory in Mexico and Central America in 2024, news outlets were looking for someone to blame. Howler monkeys and many species of parrots perished in the blazes. Slash and burn farming practices by Belizeâs indigenous communities were singled out as a primary cause. Yet this knee-jerk reaction is not evidence based and doesnât take into account forces like corporate landgrabbing for mining and agribusinesses like meat, soy and palm oil.
Belizeâs indigenous Maya communities are rebuilding stronger based on the collective notion of seâ komonil: reciprocity, solidarity, traditional knowledge, gender equity, togetherness and community.
In Belize, a state of emergency was declared as wildfires burned tens of thousands of hectares of highly bio-diverse forest. Farmers suffered huge losses as fires destroyed crops and homes, and communities across the country suffered from hazardous air quality and hot, sleepless nights. Many risked their lives to fight off the approaching fires.
As the wildfire crisis subsided with rains in June, public attention shifted toward identifying the causes and allocating blame. Many singled out the âslash and burnâ farming practices in Belizeâs Indigenous communities as the primary cause. This simple knee-jerk reaction ignores the underlying causes of the climate crisis, are scientifically unfounded and stoke resentment of Indigenous Peoples. Young Mayan women. Image source: Wikipedia
Fanning the flames
On June 5, one of Belizeâs major news networks ran a story with the headline âAre Primitive Farming Techniques Responsible for Wildfires?â The story placed blame for Belizeâs wildfires on âslash-and-burn farmingâ, arguing that âthere has to be a shift away from this destructive means of agriculture.â
The story was followed by an op-ed published online asserting that âbecause of the increased amounts of escaped agricultural fires, aided by climate change, global warming and drought, slash and burn has become more of a problem than the solution it once was.â This sentiment was further reinforced by Belizeâs prime minister, who declared that âslash Đ°nd burn has to be something of the past.â
Throughout Belize, Indigenous Maya farmers commonly practise a form of agriculture referred to as milpa in which fire is used to clear fields and fertilize the soil. Within this system, small areas of forest are chopped down, burned, and planted with maize, beans, squash and other crops. After being cultivated for a year or two, the field is then left fallow and allowed to regenerate back to forest cover while the farmers move on to a new area within a cyclical pattern where areas are reused after a regenerative period.
Commonly derided as slash-and-burn farming, milpa has long been perceived as environmentally destructive. This perspective has been perpetuated by long-standing myths and misconceptions that portray the farming practices of non-Europeans, and specifically the use of fire, as wasteful and irrational.
In Belize, this negative view of slash and burn has driven many colonial and post-colonial interventions to modernize Maya farming practices.
Recent research, however, has shown that the lands of Indigenous Peoples around the world have reduced deforestation and degradation rates relative to non-protected areas. The southern Toledo district of Belize, where the majority of Maya communities are located, boasts a forest cover rate of 71 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 63 per cent.
Many researchers now believe that milpa is a more benign alternative, in terms of environmental effects, than most other permanent farming systems in the humid tropics. Indeed, findings such as these have led to a growing appreciation for the role of Indigenous Peoples in advancing nature-based and life-enhancing climate solutions.
Unfortunately, research in the region has also found that climate change is undermining the ecological sustainability of milpa farming by forcing farmers to abandon traditional practices and adopt counterproductive measures in their struggle to adapt. In some cases, this has resulted in a decrease in the biodiversity and ecological resilience of the milpa system. This issue is compounded by the decreasing participation of young people, resulting in a further generational loss of traditional ecological knowledge.
Together, these issues are serving to alter and undermine a livelihood strategy that has proven sustainable for thousands of years. However, rather than call for Maya farmers to abandon slash and burn, we encourage support for the self-determined efforts of Maya communities to adapt to this changing climate. youtube.com/embed/ok787HRp_gA?⊠A video documenting the Maya response to the 2024 wildfire crisis.
Planting seeds of collaboration
Since winning a groundbreaking land rights claim in 2015, Maya communities in southern Belize have been working to promote an Indigenous future based on principles of reciprocity, solidarity, traditional knowledge, gender equity and, most significantly, seâ komonil, the Maya notion of togetherness and community.
Building on previous research with Maya youth, the project has produced innovative youth-led research and education on the impacts of climate change, the importance of food sovereignty, traditional ecological knowledge and the struggle to secure Indigenous land rights in Maya communities. This work has been shared with global policymakers at the United Nations and local audiences in Belize.
Rather than fanning the flames of climate blame, we must work together to revitalize Indigenous knowledge systems and plant seeds of climate collaboration and care.
Investigation by Bloomberg exposes that despite being RSPO members, #SOCFIN plantations in #WestAfrica are the epicentre of #humanrights abuses, sexual coercion, environmental destruction, and #landgrabbing. Operating in #Liberia, #Ghana, #Nigeria, and beyond, SOCFINâsâŠ
Colonial palm oil and sugarcane causing the loss of West Papuansâ cultural identity. Land grabs force communities from forests, threatening Noken weaving
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
Indigenous Melanesian women in West Papua fight land seizures for palm oil and sugar plantations, protecting their ancestral rights. Join #BoycottPalmOil
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Dahdaleh research fellow James Stinson and research assistant Lee Mcloughlin recently presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico on a panel titled "Decolonizing Alliances for the Post-Carbon TransitionâŠ
SOCFINâs African Empire of Colonial Oppression: Billionaires Profit from Palm Oil and Rubber Exploitation
An investigation by Bloomberg exposed that despite being RSPO members, #SOCFIN plantations in #WestAfrica are the epicentre of #humanrights abuses, sexual coercion, environmental destruction, and #landgrabbing. Operating in #Liberia, #Ghana, #Nigeria, and beyond, SOCFINâs #rubber and #palmoil plantations continue historical colonial legacies of exploitation. Despite widespread evidence of abuse and deforestation, SOCFIN and its partners benefit from weak sustainability certifications such as #FSC and #RSPO. Europe and the US buy products directly linked to these violations, greenwashing the destruction in the process. Indigenous communities and workers are actively resisting this huge injustice âThey seek proper redress in the form of stricter #EUDR regulations and better protections of their health, livelihoods and families. Consumers can boycott palm oil and rubber in solidarity. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
According to Bloombergâs extensive report published in April 2025, SOCFIN plantations in Liberia and Ghana are sites of widespread sexual coercion, rape and sexual abuse.
Women workers at the Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) plantation, one of SOCFINâs largest operations, routinely face demands for sex from supervisors as a condition for securing daily work. Women like Rebecca (a pseudonym) describe daily harassment and abuse, forced to accept demands out of economic necessity. Contract workers earn as little as $3.50 a day and face threats of dismissal if they refuse sexual advances.
Similar accounts emerge from SOCFINâs Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC), recently sold after violent worker protests over labour abuses, inadequate medical care, and poor housing conditions. Women workers have described supervisors openly demanding sexual favours in exchange for continued employment. Mamie, a former SRC worker, described being violently raped by her supervisor after repeatedly refusing his advances. Such experiences remain common, despite superficial anti-harassment measures like âNo Sexual Harassmentâ signs erected by the company (Bloomberg, 2025).
This neo-colonial exploitation is glaringly evident in Nigeria, where SOCFINâs subsidiary, Okumu Oil Palm Company, operates 19,062 hectares of palm plantations and 7,335 hectares of rubber plantations. Palm Oil Detectives (2024) documented widespread displacement of local Indigenous communities due to plantation expansion. Villages such as Lemon, Agbeda, and Oweike have been forcibly dismantled, leaving hundreds homeless. The affected communities received no compensation or consultationâviolating international human rights standards on Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Austin Lemon, whose family established Lemon village in 1969, recounted witnessing his ancestral land seized by SOCFIN and converted into plantations without consent or compensation. The trauma from losing their homes, livelihoods, and ancestral heritage remains profound, with many residents still unable to recover decades later.
In Ghana, SOCFINâs Plantations Socfin Ghana (PSG) has systematically destroyed vital rainforests, despite clear warnings from environmental assessments. PSG admitted clearing over 1,089 hectares of natural forest between 2012 and 2016. The loss of biodiversity and increased carbon emissions from these activities directly exacerbate the climate crisis, severely impacting local rainfall patterns and agricultural productivity. Farmers around PSGâs plantations suffer reduced yields, poverty, and food insecurity.
SOCFIN and its partners rely heavily on weak and ineffective sustainability schemes like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). But investigations repeatedly reveal these certifications as ineffectual greenwashing tools. For example, SOCFINâs Cameroon plantationsâRSPO-certifiedâface lawsuits alleging severe environmental damage and community displacement. Water pollution tests conducted near these plantations revealed dangerous contamination levels, threatening public health (Bloomberg, 2025).
Communities across West Africa resist despite enormous personal risk. Liberian union leader Mary Boimah was jailed after protests against SRCâs labour conditions. Nigerian community member Iyabo Batu was shot by SOCFIN-affiliated security personnel while protesting environmental contamination and blocked access to her village. Despite these risks, communities persist in their demands for justice, compensation, and the return of their lands.
SOCFINâs stated commitments to human rights and sustainability remain hollow. Decades of documented abuses, superficial responses to audits, and persistent denial illustrate systemic failure and wilful negligence. As long as global markets reward SOCFINâs rubber and palm oil, the cycle of violence and exploitation will continue.
The time has come to demand real accountability. Regulators and law-makers in the EU and USA must recognise their complicity in human rights abuses and ecocide in palm oil and rubber supply chains. Until this time, people and landscapes will continue to suffer from forced labour, sexual coercion, and environmental destruction. SOCFINâs ecocide and human rights abusesâmust end now.
Palm Oil Detectives. (2024, July 31). Socfinâs Destructive Empire: Palm Oil Deforestation and Human Rights Abuses in West Africa. Retrieved from palmoildetectives.com/2024/07/âŠ
After wildfires, Belizeâs indigenous people rebuild stronger based on âseâ komonilâ: reciprocity, solidarity, gender equity, togetherness and community.
Colonial palm oil and sugarcane causing the loss of West Papuansâ cultural identity. Land grabs force communities from forests, threatening Noken weaving
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
Indigenous Melanesian women in West Papua fight land seizures for palm oil and sugar plantations, protecting their ancestral rights. Join #BoycottPalmOil
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
French industrial group Bollore on Friday reached a settlement over a decade-old corruption case in Togo, prosecutors said, but a separate plea deal with three top company executives was thrown out by a judge.
Family Ties Expose Deforestation and Rights Violations in Indonesian Palm Oil
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesia’s Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount for governments to act immediately to strengthen the #EUDR. Consumers can act when we #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights
#News: Shady family ties underlie Fangiono family’s #
... Show more...
Family Ties Expose Deforestation and Rights Violations in Indonesian Palm Oil
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount for governments to act immediately to strengthen the #EUDR. Consumers can act when we #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights
EIA & Kaoem Telapak. (2025, August 20). When deforestation, corruption and rights violations are just another palm oil family affair. [EIA]. eia-international.org/news/wheâŠ
A new investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) UK and Kaoem Telapak exposes widespread alleged deforestation, corruption, and human rights abuses permeating Indonesiaâs palm oil sector, tracing these patterns to the powerful Fangiono family and their sprawling corporate network. Despite public denials and ostensible sustainability commitments, the report finds disturbing evidence that companies linked to the family have persistently violated laws, destroyed forests, and displaced local and indigenous peoples.
Indonesia, the worldâs largest palm oil producerâexporting products worth nearly $28 billion in 2024âremains a hotbed for land-grabbing and habitat loss. The report, A Family Affair, catalogues cases across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua, each area inhabited by unique indigenous communities and affected by complex ecological shifts driven by industrial expansion.
Martias, the family patriarch, was convicted in 2007 for acquiring palm oil permits through corruption and bribery. Despite serving a sentence and paying fines, his relatives have increased their influence, now holding leadership positions in major groups such as First Resources, FAP Agri, and Ciliandry Anky Abadi. The report highlights a series of persistent issues, including illegal plantation expansion, continued deforestation after permit revocation, and land acquisition without proper consent.
âThe Fangiono familyâs activities are spread far and wide across Indonesiaâs palm oil industry and all too often we find routine, flagrant violations of the law, human rights and the environment.â
Senior Forests Campaigner Siobhan Pearce (EIA)
âThis report reveals a governance failure that has enabled the Fangiono familyâs corporate network to engage in deforestation, legal violations and the criminalisation of indigenous peoples. As long as groups⊠continue to operate without oversight, accountability or legal consequences, indigenous and local communities will keep losing their land, livelihoods and fundamental rights.â
Corporate denials have done little to resolve the controversies. Although First Resources is a member of the RSPO, renowned for its so-called âsustainabilityâ standards, the RSPO suspended its membership for three months in August 2025 after the company failed to demonstrate transparency regarding cross-ownership and shadow companies. The case reflects the broader limitations of voluntary industry certification and the persistent use of offshore entities to shield beneficial ownership from scrutiny.
The EIA and Kaoem Telapak strongly urge authorities, companies, investors, and certification bodies to address these ongoing violations and demand accountability for persistent environmental and social harm. The findings serve as an urgent warning for policymakers, buyers, and consumers on the global risks of unchecked palm oil expansion. Learn more via EIA.
EIA & Kaoem Telapak. (2025, August 20). When deforestation, corruption and rights violations are just another palm oil family affair. [EIA]. eia-international.org/news/wheâŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A powerful new indigenous art exhibition has highlighted the tragic loss of #WestPapuaâs cultural identity due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #sugarcane monoculture plantations. A situation perpetuated by the illegal Indonesian colonisation ofâŠ
In the colonised region of #WestPapua, Indigenous Melanesian womenâs rights are being forgotten as companies and the Indonesian government seizes ancestral land for palm oil and sugar cane plantations â without ownersâ consent.âŠ
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmentalâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation. These revelations highlight the urgent need to address systemic issues within the palm oil sector and advocate for indigenous rights. #HumanRights #IndigenousRights #BoycottPalmOil
The coalition points to instances where large palm oil corporations have seized ancestral lands without proper consent or compensation, displacing indigenous populations and disrupting their traditional way of life. Workers within the industry report facing hazardous conditions, inadequate wages, and a lack of labour rights protections, drawing parallels to exploitative colonial labour systems.
Environmental concerns are also at the forefront, with the expansion of palm oil plantations leading to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These practices not only harm the ecosystem but also undermine the livelihoods of local communities dependent on forest resources.
The coalition is calling for comprehensive reforms in the palm oil industry, emphasising the need for policies that respect indigenous land rights, ensure fair labor standards, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. They urge consumers and policymakers to support initiatives that hold corporations accountable and advocate for ethical sourcing of palm oil.
For a detailed account, read the full article on Tempo.co.
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Research: Palm Oil Plantations Threaten Indigenous Waterways | A study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst reveals that the expansion of oil palm plantations in West Papuaâs Kais River watershed has significantly degradedâŠ
Although #deforestation rates in the Brazilian #Amazon have halved, this globally critical biome is still losing more than 5,000kmÂČ every year. Thatâs an area three times larger than Greater London. By combining satelliteâŠ
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in theâŠ
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This iâŠ
Colonial Palm Oil Threatens Ancient Noken Weaving in West Papua
A powerful new indigenous art exhibition has highlighted the tragic loss of #WestPapua’s cultural identity due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #sugarcane monoculture plantations. A situation perpetuated by the illegal Indonesian colonisation of Melanesia. The ancient Melanesian tradition of noken weaving is under threat, as military-backed land grabs force Indigenous Muyu communities from their forests. Protect people and culture, when you shop make sure you #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights #IndigenousRights
Colonial Palm Oil Threatens Ancient Noken Weaving in West Papua
A powerful new indigenous art exhibition has highlighted the tragic loss of #WestPapuaâs cultural identity due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #sugarcane monoculture plantations. A situation perpetuated by the illegal Indonesian colonisation of Melanesia. The ancient Melanesian tradition of noken weaving is under threat, as military-backed land grabs force Indigenous Muyu communities from their forests. Protect people and culture, when you shop make sure you #BoycottPalmOil #HumanRights #IndigenousRights
Asia Pacific Report. (2025, March 28). Researcher warns over West Papuan deforestation impact on traditional noken weaving. Evening Report. eveningreport.nz/2025/03/28/reâŠ
West Papuan doctoral candidate Veronika T. Kanem has issued a stark warning about the cultural and ecological destruction unfolding in Indonesia-occupied West Papua. As the region faces what may be the worldâs largest deforestation projectâtwo million hectares for palm oil and sugarcaneâcenturies-old Indigenous traditions are being pushed to the edge of existence.
Veronika T. Kanem, whose exhibition âNoken/Men: String Bags of the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papuaâ opened at Auckland University, says the forced removal of her people from their forests has endangered not only biodiversity but the sacred art of noken weavingâa practice deeply embedded in the identity and social fabric of her fatherâs tribe, the Muyu.
Known locally as âmen,â the noken is more than a string bag. Made from inner fibres of the genemo tree and other natural materials, noken symbolises a womanâs womb, a vessel of life used in ceremonies, food gathering, child-rearing, and cultural gift-giving. It holds economic, spiritual, and ancestral significance across Melanesia.
Now, industrial agriculture and military occupation threaten the entire cultural landscape. These new plantations are not only destroying forests; they are severing communities from their knowledge systems, their land, and each other. Kanemâs research applies Indigenous Melanesian methodologies, using the act of noken weaving as a metaphor for knowledge, kinship, and resistance. Her work captures the lived experience of displacement and climate injustice at the intersection of colonial occupation, corporate extraction, and Indigenous resilience.
The Auckland exhibition also screened a documentary showcasing noken weaving traditions from across West Papua, including Asmat, Nabire, and Wamena. Speakers at the event, including Pacific scholars and artists, praised the project as a vital act of cultural preservation and defiance.
As Indonesia accelerates its colonial development schemes, the voices of West Papuans like Kanem are essential. Indigenous peoples must lead solutions to environmental destruction. Without indigenous justice, there can be no climate repair.
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount forâŠ
In the colonised region of #WestPapua, Indigenous Melanesian womenâs rights are being forgotten as companies and the Indonesian government seizes ancestral land for palm oil and sugar cane plantations â without ownersâ consent.âŠ
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmentalâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Evening Report Provides daily analysis of geopolitics, politics, business, the economy and news. Evening Report also publishes and webcasts authoritative podcasts that analyse global issues and events.
Family Ties Expose Deforestation and Rights Violations in Indonesian Palm Oil
An explosive report by the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) details how Indonesiaâs Fangiono family, through a wide corporate web, is linked to ongoing #deforestation, #corruption, and #indigenousrights abuses for #palmoil. Calls mount for governments to act immediately to strengthen the #EUDR. Consumers can act when we #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights
EIA & Kaoem Telapak. (2025, August 20). When deforestation, corruption and rights violations are just another palm oil family affair. [EIA]. eia-international.org/news/wheâŠ
A new investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) UK and Kaoem Telapak exposes widespread alleged deforestation, corruption, and human rights abuses permeating Indonesiaâs palm oil sector, tracing these patterns to the powerful Fangiono family and their sprawling corporate network. Despite public denials and ostensible sustainability commitments, the report finds disturbing evidence that companies linked to the family have persistently violated laws, destroyed forests, and displaced local and indigenous peoples.
Indonesia, the worldâs largest palm oil producerâexporting products worth nearly $28 billion in 2024âremains a hotbed for land-grabbing and habitat loss. The report, A Family Affair, catalogues cases across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua, each area inhabited by unique indigenous communities and affected by complex ecological shifts driven by industrial expansion.
Martias, the family patriarch, was convicted in 2007 for acquiring palm oil permits through corruption and bribery. Despite serving a sentence and paying fines, his relatives have increased their influence, now holding leadership positions in major groups such as First Resources, FAP Agri, and Ciliandry Anky Abadi. The report highlights a series of persistent issues, including illegal plantation expansion, continued deforestation after permit revocation, and land acquisition without proper consent.
âThe Fangiono familyâs activities are spread far and wide across Indonesiaâs palm oil industry and all too often we find routine, flagrant violations of the law, human rights and the environment.â
Senior Forests Campaigner Siobhan Pearce (EIA)
âThis report reveals a governance failure that has enabled the Fangiono familyâs corporate network to engage in deforestation, legal violations and the criminalisation of indigenous peoples. As long as groups⊠continue to operate without oversight, accountability or legal consequences, indigenous and local communities will keep losing their land, livelihoods and fundamental rights.â
Corporate denials have done little to resolve the controversies. Although First Resources is a member of the RSPO, renowned for its so-called âsustainabilityâ standards, the RSPO suspended its membership for three months in August 2025 after the company failed to demonstrate transparency regarding cross-ownership and shadow companies. The case reflects the broader limitations of voluntary industry certification and the persistent use of offshore entities to shield beneficial ownership from scrutiny.
The EIA and Kaoem Telapak strongly urge authorities, companies, investors, and certification bodies to address these ongoing violations and demand accountability for persistent environmental and social harm. The findings serve as an urgent warning for policymakers, buyers, and consumers on the global risks of unchecked palm oil expansion. Learn more via EIA.
EIA & Kaoem Telapak. (2025, August 20). When deforestation, corruption and rights violations are just another palm oil family affair. [EIA]. eia-international.org/news/wheâŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A powerful new indigenous art exhibition has highlighted the tragic loss of #WestPapuaâs cultural identity due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #sugarcane monoculture plantations. A situation perpetuated by the illegal Indonesian colonisation ofâŠ
In the colonised region of #WestPapua, Indigenous Melanesian womenâs rights are being forgotten as companies and the Indonesian government seizes ancestral land for palm oil and sugar cane plantations â without ownersâ consent.âŠ
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmentalâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation. These revelations highlight the urgent need to address systemic issues within the palm oil sector and advocate for indigenous rights. #HumanRights #IndigenousRights #BoycottPalmOil
#News: Indonesian #palmoil workers reveal industry pra
... Show more...
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism
Palm Oil Workers Expose Industry Practices Resembling Colonialism | A coalition of palm oil workers in Indonesia has unveiled industry practices that mirror colonial exploitation, including land grabbing, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation. These revelations highlight the urgent need to address systemic issues within the palm oil sector and advocate for indigenous rights. #HumanRights #IndigenousRights #BoycottPalmOil
The coalition points to instances where large palm oil corporations have seized ancestral lands without proper consent or compensation, displacing indigenous populations and disrupting their traditional way of life. Workers within the industry report facing hazardous conditions, inadequate wages, and a lack of labour rights protections, drawing parallels to exploitative colonial labour systems.
Environmental concerns are also at the forefront, with the expansion of palm oil plantations leading to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These practices not only harm the ecosystem but also undermine the livelihoods of local communities dependent on forest resources.
The coalition is calling for comprehensive reforms in the palm oil industry, emphasising the need for policies that respect indigenous land rights, ensure fair labor standards, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. They urge consumers and policymakers to support initiatives that hold corporations accountable and advocate for ethical sourcing of palm oil.
For a detailed account, read the full article on Tempo.co.
A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction butâŠ
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This is done in order to justifyâŠ
Research: Palm Oil Plantations Threaten Indigenous Waterways | A study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst reveals that the expansion of oil palm plantations in West Papuaâs Kais River watershed has significantly degradedâŠ
Although #deforestation rates in the Brazilian #Amazon have halved, this globally critical biome is still losing more than 5,000kmÂČ every year. Thatâs an area three times larger than Greater London. By combining satelliteâŠ
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in theâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
In #WestPapua, on illegally colonised and disputed land taken by violence from Melanesian Indigenous peoples last century by Indonesian forces, authorities label indigenous lands as âemptyâ. This iâŠ
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in the Indian region of Nagaland. They highlight potential deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and threats to indigenous livelihoods. Instead, they advocate for agroecological practices, less intensive crops and indigenous-led conservation in order to protect the Nagalandâs irreplacable ecosystems. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Nagaland Post. (2024, December 17). NCCAF raises concern over oil palm plantations. Retrieved from nagalandpost.com/index.php/202âŠ
The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has expressed significant concerns regarding the expansion of palm oil plantations in Nagaland, India. They warn that such developments could lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and adverse effects on indigenous communitiesâ livelihoods.
The forum highlights that large-scale palm oil plantations are often linked to widespread deforestation. Nagalandâs unique ecosystems, home to rare flora and fauna, face significant threats if forests are replaced with monoculture crops. Such deforestation could disrupt water cycles, increase soil erosion, and lead to habitat loss for local wildlife.
Additionally, the forum points to soil degradation and water depletion as critical issues. Palm oil farming is water-intensive, placing added pressure on local water resources already stretched by agricultural needs. The use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides further risks contaminating soil and harming nearby communities.
Social consequences are equally concerning. The acquisition of land for plantations could displace Indigenous communities that depend on traditional farming and forest-based livelihoods. This displacement threatens not only food security but also the cultural heritage tied to these lands.
The forum has also criticised the economic model behind palm oil expansion, describing it as exploitative. While corporate stakeholders profit, local farmers are often left in financial distress due to fluctuating palm oil prices and the long maturity period for crops.
As an alternative, the forum advocates for sustainable farming practices that align with Nagalandâs ecological and cultural heritage. It suggests exploring crops that are less resource-intensive and offer long-term environmental benefits.
The forum has emphasised the importance of involving Indigenous communities in land-use decisions. Transparent policymaking that respects local rights is crucial for achieving a balance between economic development and ecological preservation.
The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum calls on the government, environmentalists, and the public to critically evaluate the long-term consequences of palm oil expansion. By prioritising sustainable alternatives, Nagaland can safeguard its biodiversity while fostering economic growth.
For a detailed account, read the full article on Nagaland Post.
Nagaland Post. (2024, December 17). NCCAF raises concern over oil palm plantations. Retrieved from nagalandpost.com/index.php/202âŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A catastrophic storm in #Ugandaâs Kalangala district left nearly 1,000 households homeless. The real culprit? Rampant #deforestation for #palmoil. Once rich in native forests that buffered storms, Kalangala is now a fragile landscapeâŠ
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, isâŠ
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm Oil Is Ruining Kalangala Uganda — Locals Paying the Price
A catastrophic storm in #Uganda’s Kalangala district left nearly 1,000 households homeless. The real culprit? Rampant #deforestation for #palmoil. Once rich in native forests that buffered storms, Kalangala is now a fragile landscape dominated by monoculture palm oil and #tobacco plantations that does not keep villages safe from climate induced flooding and severe storms. This human-caused disaster is a wake-up call: palm
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Palm Oil Is Ruining Kalangala Uganda â Locals Paying the Price
A catastrophic storm in #Ugandaâs Kalangala district left nearly 1,000 households homeless. The real culprit? Rampant #deforestation for #palmoil. Once rich in native forests that buffered storms, Kalangala is now a fragile landscape dominated by monoculture palm oil and #tobacco plantations that does not keep villages safe from climate induced flooding and severe storms. This human-caused disaster is a wake-up call: palm oil profits must never come before people and planet. Support #indigenous-led reforestation and demand corporate accountability for ecocide! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights
Editorial. (2025, March 26). Kalangala disaster and urgent need for environmental responsibility. The Observer. observer.ug/viewpoint/kalangalâŠ
On 15 March 2025, Kalangala district in Uganda was devastated by one of the worst storms in recent memoryânearly 1,000 households were left homeless. But behind this climate catastrophe lies a man-made environmental disaster: deforestation for commercial palm oil plantations.
Once covered in lush, native forests that shielded communities from extreme weather, Kalangala has been stripped bare in recent decades. The clearance of biodiverse forests to make way for monoculture oil palm has left the region exposed, vulnerable, and unable to withstand the escalating effects of climate change.
Palm oil trees, unlike indigenous forest cover, offer little resistance to powerful winds. As a result, communities that once thrived in harmony with their environment are now suffering repeated climate-related trauma.
Ugandaâs National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been heavily criticised for its failure to conduct robust environmental impact assessments before approving forest clearance for palm oil expansion. This lack of oversightâfuelled by a reckless pursuit of economic profitâhas eroded not just forests, but also the safety, wellbeing, and futures of local communities.
This disaster is not isolated. Across Uganda, and indeed the entire tropical belt, commercial land grabs for palm oil and other export crops continue to displace communities, destroy ecosystems, and exacerbate climate collapse.
What happened in Kalangala is a brutal lesson in environmental injustice. Corporate profits were prioritised over ecological safety and the lives of ordinary people. This is a call to action for governments, regulators, and citizens alike: we must put an end to extractive industries that place short-term gain above human rights and environmental resilience.
A large-scale, community-led native reforestation programme is urgently needed. Indigenous forests must be restored to buffer future disasters and repair the broken link between people and the land. Kalangalaâs tragedy is not the endâit must be the beginning of resistance.
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in theâŠ
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, isâŠ
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Violence for Palm Oil Against Peasant Communities in Honduras Meets Resistance
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, is accused of land theft and involvement in the murders of local activists. International organisations have condemned these human rights abuses, with a coalition of 33 organisations calling for a boycott of Dinant and for multinational companies: Pepsi, ADM, Cargill and Nestle to immediately cease business with Dinant. Despite governmental promises to address the conflict, concrete actions remain absent. You can resist for them in solidarity by boycotting their products in the supermarket! #BoycottPalmOil #LandRights #IndigenousRights #HumanRights
Dinant Faces Allegations of Murder, Violence and Threats Against Peasant Farmers
The Dinant Corporation, a major palm oil producer, claims ownership of lands that peasants assert as their ancestral territory. For over a decade, Dinant has faced allegations of engaging in violence, including murders and threats against peasant leaders and human rights defenders. International bodies, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, have denounced these abuses. In February 2022, Honduran President Xiomara Castro pledged to investigate and resolve the conflict through a tripartite commission; however, tangible actions have yet to materialise.
Environmental and Economic Implications
The expansion of palm oil monoculture in Honduras, now covering approximately 200,000 hectaresâover 18% of the nationâs arable landâhas led to significant deforestation, ecosystem destruction, and soil degradation. This growth often involves collaboration between corporations and paramilitary groups, exacerbating the displacement and persecution of peasant communities.
International Coalition of 33 Orgs Call for Boycott of Dinant
The ongoing violence and displacement of peasant communities in Honduras necessitate urgent intervention from both national authorities and the international community. Protecting the rights and lives of these communities is imperative, alongside promoting land use practices that fully respect indigenous territories and environmental integrity.
Latchford, R. (2025, February 20). Peasant communities under attack in Honduras. Freedom News. Retrieved February 25, 2025, from freedomnews.org.uk/2025/02/20/âŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a shocking and disgraceful incident occurred in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a meeting of shareholders from Plantations et Huileries du CongoâŠ
The Amazonâs diverse ecosystem is under threat from rampant deforestation, degradation, a biodiversity crisis, and the climate crisis â jeopardising its ability to act as a carbon sink. This degradation increases the likelihood of zoonotic diseases emergingâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm oil company Dinant accused of land theft and murder of local activists ~ Rob Latchford ~ In the AguĂĄn Valley in northern Honduras, heavily armed men linked to organised crime have been employing intimidation and violence towards farmers, who havâŠ
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in the Indian region of Nagaland. They highlight potential deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and threats to indigenous livelihoods. Instead, they advocate for agroecological practices, less intensive crops and indigenous-led conservation in order to protect the Nagaland’s irreplacable ecosystems. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in the Indian region of Nagaland. They highlight potential deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and threats to indigenous livelihoods. Instead, they advocate for agroecological practices, less intensive crops and indigenous-led conservation in order to protect the Nagalandâs irreplacable ecosystems. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Nagaland Post. (2024, December 17). NCCAF raises concern over oil palm plantations. Retrieved from nagalandpost.com/index.php/202âŠ
The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has expressed significant concerns regarding the expansion of palm oil plantations in Nagaland, India. They warn that such developments could lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and adverse effects on indigenous communitiesâ livelihoods.
The forum highlights that large-scale palm oil plantations are often linked to widespread deforestation. Nagalandâs unique ecosystems, home to rare flora and fauna, face significant threats if forests are replaced with monoculture crops. Such deforestation could disrupt water cycles, increase soil erosion, and lead to habitat loss for local wildlife.
Additionally, the forum points to soil degradation and water depletion as critical issues. Palm oil farming is water-intensive, placing added pressure on local water resources already stretched by agricultural needs. The use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides further risks contaminating soil and harming nearby communities.
Social consequences are equally concerning. The acquisition of land for plantations could displace Indigenous communities that depend on traditional farming and forest-based livelihoods. This displacement threatens not only food security but also the cultural heritage tied to these lands.
The forum has also criticised the economic model behind palm oil expansion, describing it as exploitative. While corporate stakeholders profit, local farmers are often left in financial distress due to fluctuating palm oil prices and the long maturity period for crops.
As an alternative, the forum advocates for sustainable farming practices that align with Nagalandâs ecological and cultural heritage. It suggests exploring crops that are less resource-intensive and offer long-term environmental benefits.
The forum has emphasised the importance of involving Indigenous communities in land-use decisions. Transparent policymaking that respects local rights is crucial for achieving a balance between economic development and ecological preservation.
The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum calls on the government, environmentalists, and the public to critically evaluate the long-term consequences of palm oil expansion. By prioritising sustainable alternatives, Nagaland can safeguard its biodiversity while fostering economic growth.
For a detailed account, read the full article on Nagaland Post.
Nagaland Post. (2024, December 17). NCCAF raises concern over oil palm plantations. Retrieved from nagalandpost.com/index.php/202âŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A catastrophic storm in #Ugandaâs Kalangala district left nearly 1,000 households homeless. The real culprit? Rampant #deforestation for #palmoil. Once rich in native forests that buffered storms, Kalangala is now a fragile landscapeâŠ
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, isâŠ
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
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Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm Oil Is Ruining Kalangala Uganda â Locals Paying the Price
A catastrophic storm in #Ugandaâs Kalangala district left nearly 1,000 households homeless. The real culprit? Rampant #deforestation for #palmoil. Once rich in native forests that buffered storms, Kalangala is now a fragile landscape dominated by monoculture palm oil and #tobacco plantations that does not keep villages safe from climate induced flooding and severe storms. This human-caused disaster is a wake-up call: palm oil profits must never come before people and planet. Support #indigenous-led reforestation and demand corporate accountability for ecocide! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #HumanRights
Editorial. (2025, March 26). Kalangala disaster and urgent need for environmental responsibility. The Observer. observer.ug/viewpoint/kalangalâŠ
On 15 March 2025, Kalangala district in Uganda was devastated by one of the worst storms in recent memoryânearly 1,000 households were left homeless. But behind this climate catastrophe lies a man-made environmental disaster: deforestation for commercial palm oil plantations.
Once covered in lush, native forests that shielded communities from extreme weather, Kalangala has been stripped bare in recent decades. The clearance of biodiverse forests to make way for monoculture oil palm has left the region exposed, vulnerable, and unable to withstand the escalating effects of climate change.
Palm oil trees, unlike indigenous forest cover, offer little resistance to powerful winds. As a result, communities that once thrived in harmony with their environment are now suffering repeated climate-related trauma.
Ugandaâs National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has been heavily criticised for its failure to conduct robust environmental impact assessments before approving forest clearance for palm oil expansion. This lack of oversightâfuelled by a reckless pursuit of economic profitâhas eroded not just forests, but also the safety, wellbeing, and futures of local communities.
This disaster is not isolated. Across Uganda, and indeed the entire tropical belt, commercial land grabs for palm oil and other export crops continue to displace communities, destroy ecosystems, and exacerbate climate collapse.
What happened in Kalangala is a brutal lesson in environmental injustice. Corporate profits were prioritised over ecological safety and the lives of ordinary people. This is a call to action for governments, regulators, and citizens alike: we must put an end to extractive industries that place short-term gain above human rights and environmental resilience.
A large-scale, community-led native reforestation programme is urgently needed. Indigenous forests must be restored to buffer future disasters and repair the broken link between people and the land. Kalangalaâs tragedy is not the endâit must be the beginning of resistance.
Concerns Mount Over Palm Oil Expansion in Nagaland | The Nagaland Climate Change Adaptation Forum (NCCAF) has raised grave concerns about the environmental and social impacts of expanding palm oil plantations in theâŠ
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, isâŠ
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the country’s largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species like #tigers and pollutes local water supplies. It has been described as “the worst-managed oil palm plantation in Malaysia.” Palm oil yields are low, while the #deforestation is chaotic, leaving the land barren and overrun with #elephants. The report highlights links between developers and political or royal ownership and rampant corruption and strongly pushes for more transparency, improved government oversight and regulatory enforcement. #
... Show more...
The Great Malaysian Timber and Palm Oil Swindle
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species like #tigers and pollutes local water supplies. It has been described as âthe worst-managed oil palm plantation in Malaysia.â Palm oil yields are low, while the #deforestation is chaotic, leaving the land barren and overrun with #elephants. The report highlights links between developers and political or royal ownership and rampant corruption and strongly pushes for more transparency, improved government oversight and regulatory enforcement. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
An investigation by Malaysiakini, in collaboration with the Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network, has exposed the dire environmental and social impacts of one of Malaysiaâs largest oil palm plantations in Pahang. Located near an environmentally protected area, the plantationâs operations have resulted in chaotic deforestation, disrupted water supplies, and threats to endangered wildlife, including tigers.
The plantation, described by an environmental consultant as âthe worst-managed oil palm plantation in Malaysia,â has low palm oil yields and barren landscapes overrun with elephants. Developers often cite âwildlife conflictâ to justify failures, shifting focus to logging valuable timber instead of sustainable plantation development.
Malaysiakiniâs investigation also shed light on troubling links between plantation developers and political or royal interests, with 95% of the land developed by such entities. In December, the investigative team revealed that prominent banks provided large loans to plantation developers despite repeated project failures, questioning the banksâ credibility and oversight practices.
The investigation calls on the Malaysian government to tighten plantation approval processes and enforce environmental protections to prevent further harm to biodiversity and local communities.
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, isâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a shocking and disgraceful incident occurred in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a meeting of shareholders from Plantations et Huileries du CongoâŠ
The Amazonâs diverse ecosystem is under threat from rampant deforestation, degradation, a biodiversity crisis, and the climate crisis â jeopardising its ability to act as a carbon sink. This degradation increases the likelihood of zoonotic diseases emergingâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
This yearâs picks emphasize the regionâs increasingly sophisticated cross-border crimes, but also how investigative journalists consistently expose them.
Deadly Harvest: How Demand for Palm Oil Fuels Corruption in Honduras
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives and real dangers they face in the long-term fight for protect Honduran rainforests, indigenous peoples and animals from annihilation #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Words and photography by Fritz Pinnow in Tela, Honduras. Originally published in The Guardian, 27 November, 2023 and republished via the Guardianâs open license agreement, read original article.
Park ranger Adonias Cruz was out monitoring illegal oil palm crops in Blanca Jeannette Kawas national park, on the north coast of Honduras, on 10 September, when an unknown armed man came to his flat and rang the bell. When the stranger realised Cruz was out, he left him a death threat. Oil palm fields growing at the edges of the national park in Honduras. Photography: Fritz Pinnow.
âI had already received death threats from people in the community for leading a team to eradicate a new oil palm plantation in the central zone of the park,â says Cruz. âIt was frightening to know they were in my flat and that everything could have ended differently if I had been home that day.â
Cruz, 28, is one of four park rangers dedicated to protecting national parks and monitoring illegal oil palm crops in Honduras. It is a high-risk job: groups linked to the exploitation of palm oil in environmental reserves and drug trafficking have made it clear they are ready to kill if they think the agents interfere too much in their business.
âMost people see us as their enemy. We can have friendly conversations with everyone here, but you never know who will be behind the next assassination attempt,â says Cruz. Park ranger Adonias Cruz and colleagues patrol a mangrove lagoon in Blanca Jeannette Kawas national park looking for signs of illegal oil palm. Photo: Fritz Pinnow. Fellow park ranger Cesar Ortega, 22, adds that the teamâs work is monitored by the criminals. âFrom when we leave the office, they know exactly where we are and where we are heading. They have people at every intersection calling in our position and asking if we are with soldiers,â he says.
Cruz and Ortega are two of the many rangers who have been threatened while fighting against the rapid spread of oil palm plantations. Palm oil, especially from the oil palmâs fruit, has become an essential export business in Honduras, used in the food industry, in beauty products and as a biofuel. Its low production costs make it a cheap substitute for most oils, such as sunflower and olive, significantly lowering manufacturing costs in global markets.
Palm oil accounts for about 40% of global demand for vegetable oil as food, animal feed and fuel â about 210m tonnes. Between 1995 and 2015, annual production quadrupled, from 15.2m tonnes to 62.6m tonnes, and it is expected to quadruple once more in 2050. Latin America, the fastest-growing producer, accounts for almost 7% of global palm oil production. Park ranger Cesar Ortega points out newly planted oil palm: âWhen the oil palm is still so young, it is critical to remove it In Honduras, oil palm gained traction as a crop in2014, when the former president Juan Orlando HernĂĄndez invested almost $72m (ÂŁ57m) in loans and grants to incentivise its cultivation. âAll one needed was the willingness to plant oil palm, and the rest was served on a plate,â says Pablo Flores VelĂĄsquez, professor of environmental investigations at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).
For the traffickers, oil palm crops are a way of legitimising their presence in the territory and securing physical control over the land.
Frances Thomson, Latin America specialist
The problem is that the extensive cultivation of oil palm has not only proved to be lucrative, but also poses a risk to the environment. âThe oil palm presents a serious threat to the biodiversity of the wetlands and the water quality communities depend on,â says VelĂĄsquez. âAs a monoculture, the installation and establishment of the crop necessitates the complete eradication of the biodiverse area, paralysing the ecosystem completely and permanently.â
Nevertheless, 60% of the production in Honduras is in the hands of smallholders, who sell to corporations for refinement and export. Palm oil is highly lucrative for the farmers and provides an income every 15 days. The regional price of palm oil fruit varies greatly, from about 2,400 lempiras (ÂŁ77) a tonne during low season to double that in summer. Cesar Ortega looks at an area deforested for oil palm plantations. âThey have stopped because of flooding, but as soon as they can access this area again this will all become palma,â he says Read the remaining article on The Guardianâs website.
Words and photography by Fritz Pinnow in Tela, Honduras. Originally published in The Guardian, 27 November, 2023 and republished under Guardianâs open license agreement, read original article.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
The Glaucous #Macaw stands out not only for their vibrant coloration but also for their vocalisations, which led to its GuaranĂ name âguaa-obi.â As part of a larger group of neotropical macaws, theyâŠ
Attenboroughâs long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), known locally as âPayangko,â is one of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals and is native to the Cyclops Mountains in Papua, Indonesia. This critically endangered monotreme is distinguishedâŠ
A landmark #Greenpeace study reveals that more than 25% of food labels fail to meet trustworthy sustainability standards. Clear and severe failures in #ecolabel effectiveness were awarded to Roundtable on Sustainable Palm OilâŠ
Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Nancy Maâs night monkeys peer out of the trees during the dusk with their large, soulful eyes and striking facial markings. Also known asâŠ
Emily is a Sussex-based illustrator with a degree in Marine Biology and an MA in Illustration. Combining her scientific background with her creative talents, she is passionate about highlighting lesser-known endangered species throughâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Violence for Palm Oil Against Peasant Communities in Honduras Meets Resistance
In the Aguán Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, is accused of land theft and involvement in the murders of local activists. International organisations have condemned these human rights abuses, with a coalition of 33 organisations calling for a boycott of Dinant and for multinational companies: Pepsi, ADM, Cargill and
... Show more...
Violence for Palm Oil Against Peasant Communities in Honduras Meets Resistance
In the AguĂĄn Valley of northern Honduras, peasant communities reclaiming ancestral lands face increasing violence and intimidation from armed groups linked to organised crime. The Dinant Corporation, a prominent palm oil producer, is accused of land theft and involvement in the murders of local activists. International organisations have condemned these human rights abuses, with a coalition of 33 organisations calling for a boycott of Dinant and for multinational companies: Pepsi, ADM, Cargill and Nestle to immediately cease business with Dinant. Despite governmental promises to address the conflict, concrete actions remain absent. You can resist for them in solidarity by boycotting their products in the supermarket! #BoycottPalmOil #LandRights #IndigenousRights #HumanRights
Dinant Faces Allegations of Murder, Violence and Threats Against Peasant Farmers
The Dinant Corporation, a major palm oil producer, claims ownership of lands that peasants assert as their ancestral territory. For over a decade, Dinant has faced allegations of engaging in violence, including murders and threats against peasant leaders and human rights defenders. International bodies, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, have denounced these abuses. In February 2022, Honduran President Xiomara Castro pledged to investigate and resolve the conflict through a tripartite commission; however, tangible actions have yet to materialise.
Environmental and Economic Implications
The expansion of palm oil monoculture in Honduras, now covering approximately 200,000 hectaresâover 18% of the nationâs arable landâhas led to significant deforestation, ecosystem destruction, and soil degradation. This growth often involves collaboration between corporations and paramilitary groups, exacerbating the displacement and persecution of peasant communities.
International Coalition of 33 Orgs Call for Boycott of Dinant
The ongoing violence and displacement of peasant communities in Honduras necessitate urgent intervention from both national authorities and the international community. Protecting the rights and lives of these communities is imperative, alongside promoting land use practices that fully respect indigenous territories and environmental integrity.
Latchford, R. (2025, February 20). Peasant communities under attack in Honduras. Freedom News. Retrieved February 25, 2025, from freedomnews.org.uk/2025/02/20/âŠ
ENDS
Read more about human rights abuses and child slavery in the palm oil industry
A joint investigation by Malaysiakini and Pulitzer Centerâs Rainforest Investigations Network (RIN) reveals alarming deforestation in Pahang, #Malaysia, caused by one of the countryâs largest #palmoil plantations. The plantation threatens endangered species likeâŠ
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives andâŠ
From Brazilâs action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance ofâŠ
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a shocking and disgraceful incident occurred in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a meeting of shareholders from Plantations et Huileries du CongoâŠ
The Amazonâs diverse ecosystem is under threat from rampant deforestation, degradation, a biodiversity crisis, and the climate crisis â jeopardising its ability to act as a carbon sink. This degradation increases the likelihood of zoonotic diseases emergingâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Palm oil company Dinant accused of land theft and murder of local activists ~ Rob Latchford ~ In the AguĂĄn Valley in northern Honduras, heavily armed men linked to organised crime have been employing intimidation and violence towards farmers, who havâŠ
Deadly Harvest: How Demand for Palm Oil Fuels Corruption in Honduras
Latin America is the fastest-growing producer of palm oil, but at what price for the environment and its defenders? Park rangers in Honduras tell harrowing tales of daily threats to their lives and real dangers they face in the long-term fight for protect Honduran rainforests, indigenous peoples and animals from annihilation #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Words and photography by Fritz Pinnow in Tela, Honduras. Originally published in The Guardian, 27 November, 2023 and republished via the Guardianâs open license agreement, read original article.
Park ranger Adonias Cruz was out monitoring illegal oil palm crops in Blanca Jeannette Kawas national park, on the north coast of Honduras, on 10 September, when an unknown armed man came to his flat and rang the bell. When the stranger realised Cruz was out, he left him a death threat. Oil palm fields growing at the edges of the national park in Honduras. Photography: Fritz Pinnow.
âI had already received death threats from people in the community for leading a team to eradicate a new oil palm plantation in the central zone of the park,â says Cruz. âIt was frightening to know they were in my flat and that everything could have ended differently if I had been home that day.â
Cruz, 28, is one of four park rangers dedicated to protecting national parks and monitoring illegal oil palm crops in Honduras. It is a high-risk job: groups linked to the exploitation of palm oil in environmental reserves and drug trafficking have made it clear they are ready to kill if they think the agents interfere too much in their business.
âMost people see us as their enemy. We can have friendly conversations with everyone here, but you never know who will be behind the next assassination attempt,â says Cruz. Park ranger Adonias Cruz and colleagues patrol a mangrove lagoon in Blanca Jeannette Kawas national park looking for signs of illegal oil palm. Photo: Fritz Pinnow. Fellow park ranger Cesar Ortega, 22, adds that the teamâs work is monitored by the criminals. âFrom when we leave the office, they know exactly where we are and where we are heading. They have people at every intersection calling in our position and asking if we are with soldiers,â he says.
Cruz and Ortega are two of the many rangers who have been threatened while fighting against the rapid spread of oil palm plantations. Palm oil, especially from the oil palmâs fruit, has become an essential export business in Honduras, used in the food industry, in beauty products and as a biofuel. Its low production costs make it a cheap substitute for most oils, such as sunflower and olive, significantly lowering manufacturing costs in global markets.
Palm oil accounts for about 40% of global demand for vegetable oil as food, animal feed and fuel â about 210m tonnes. Between 1995 and 2015, annual production quadrupled, from 15.2m tonnes to 62.6m tonnes, and it is expected to quadruple once more in 2050. Latin America, the fastest-growing producer, accounts for almost 7% of global palm oil production. Park ranger Cesar Ortega points out newly planted oil palm: âWhen the oil palm is still so young, it is critical to remove it In Honduras, oil palm gained traction as a crop in2014, when the former president Juan Orlando HernĂĄndez invested almost $72m (ÂŁ57m) in loans and grants to incentivise its cultivation. âAll one needed was the willingness to plant oil palm, and the rest was served on a plate,â says Pablo Flores VelĂĄsquez, professor of environmental investigations at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).
For the traffickers, oil palm crops are a way of legitimising their presence in the territory and securing physical control over the land.
Frances Thomson, Latin America specialist
The problem is that the extensive cultivation of oil palm has not only proved to be lucrative, but also poses a risk to the environment. âThe oil palm presents a serious threat to the biodiversity of the wetlands and the water quality communities depend on,â says VelĂĄsquez. âAs a monoculture, the installation and establishment of the crop necessitates the complete eradication of the biodiverse area, paralysing the ecosystem completely and permanently.â
Nevertheless, 60% of the production in Honduras is in the hands of smallholders, who sell to corporations for refinement and export. Palm oil is highly lucrative for the farmers and provides an income every 15 days. The regional price of palm oil fruit varies greatly, from about 2,400 lempiras (ÂŁ77) a tonne during low season to double that in summer. Cesar Ortega looks at an area deforested for oil palm plantations. âThey have stopped because of flooding, but as soon as they can access this area again this will all become palma,â he says Read the remaining article on The Guardianâs website.
Words and photography by Fritz Pinnow in Tela, Honduras. Originally published in The Guardian, 27 November, 2023 and republished under Guardianâs open license agreement, read original article.
ENDS
Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry
The Glaucous #Macaw stands out not only for their vibrant coloration but also for their vocalisations, which led to its GuaranĂ name âguaa-obi.â As part of a larger group of neotropical macaws, theyâŠ
Attenboroughâs long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), known locally as âPayangko,â is one of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals and is native to the Cyclops Mountains in Papua, Indonesia. This critically endangered monotreme is distinguishedâŠ
A landmark #Greenpeace study reveals that more than 25% of food labels fail to meet trustworthy sustainability standards. Clear and severe failures in #ecolabel effectiveness were awarded to Roundtable on Sustainable Palm OilâŠ
Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Nancy Maâs night monkeys peer out of the trees during the dusk with their large, soulful eyes and striking facial markings. Also known asâŠ
Emily is a Sussex-based illustrator with a degree in Marine Biology and an MA in Illustration. Combining her scientific background with her creative talents, she is passionate about highlighting lesser-known endangered species throughâŠ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Oil palm fields growing at the edges of the national park in Honduras. Photography: Fritz Pinnow.
âI had already received death threats from people in the community for leading a team to eradicate a new oil palm plantation in the central zone of the park,â says Cruz. âIt was frightening to know they were in my flat and that everything could have ended differently if I had been home that day.âPark ranger Adonias Cruz and colleagues patrol a mangrove lagoon in Blanca Jeannette Kawas national park looking for signs of illegal oil palm. Photo: Fritz Pinnow.
Park ranger Cesar Ortega points out newly planted oil palm: âWhen the oil palm is still so young, it is critical to remove it
Cesar Ortega looks at an area deforested for oil palm plantations. âThey have stopped because of flooding, but as soon as they can access this area again this will all become palma,â he says
