In Southeast Asia, research is being carried out in two
case study countries: Malaysia and Indonesia. These two
countries have the world’s largest plantations of oil palm, the
major feedstock for biodiesel. Detailed field research is
underway in areas potentially subject to
deforestation through the conversion of forests into palm
plantations, and linked to biodiesel production. Borneo (Sarawak
and Sabah of Malaysia and Kalimantan of Indonesia) is considered the major hot spot in the region
where
massive deforestation has occurred due to the expansion of oil
palm estates.
An oil palm plantation in West
Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Ryan Woo
Research is underway in Sarawak, West
Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. Household surveys are
organised to better
understand the likely impacts of biofuel development on forests
and local livelihoods, including local people’s access to, and control over land and forest resources. In
addition to Sarawak and Kalimantan, surveys are also be
conducted in another research site in Papua, in the eastern
part of Indonesia.
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