Impacts of Oil Palm Cultivation
Infoslide: Impact of Oil Palm Cultivation on Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss is also one consequence of the land-use change towards oil palm plantations; especially habitat loss due to deforestation and fire[1]. Clough et al.[6] observed that compared to natural rainforests and rubber cultivation, oil palm monocultures had the lowest overall species richness and a lower genetic diversity.
However, Schulz et al.[25], found that some protist groups had a higher diversity in oil palm plantations that in rainforest. According to the EFForTS key findings of in 2019, no loss in biodiversity because of conversion towards oil palm cultivation can be stated for birds (except for some species, see below) and bats as well as for soil bacteria and archaea[26]. Furthermore, generalists like pigs (food: oil seeds) and certain snakes (food: rodents) can profit from oil palm plantation[1].
In comparison, oil palm plantations have a higher abundance of invasive species, a different composition of biological communities and are far less structurally complex and diverse regarding the (understory) vegetation (e.g., Rembold et al.[27]). In a recent study, Grass et al.[12] confirmed that the increase in profits from land use decreases the overall ecosystem functioning. It also affects local livelihoods, and it has far reaching consequences for the global climate. The authors question the “long-term sustainability of ongoing economic development in this global biodiversity hotspot”.
