Up For Grabs: Deforestation And Exploitation In Papua’s Plantations Boom

The unique forests of Papua are under siege from the rampant spread of plantations.

Up to five million hectares of land have been targeted for conversion to grow crops such as oil palm, with the projected global demand for biofuels driving much of this conversion.

At stake is a major part of the last tropical forest wilderness in the entire Asia-Pacific region – Papua’s forests host an amazing array of biodiversity, provide livelihoods for indigenous communities and are a vital carbon store.