Oil palm plantations versus mammals and birds conservation: a case study in two oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan Province

Abstract

The assessment of the oil palm plantations impact on biodiversity mostly compares oil palm plantations to natural forests. However, in reality, most land cover types before oil palm plantation establishment are no longer primary forests. Observations were made on two oil palm plantations (2 companies) in the West Kalimantan Province. Tracking data on the origin of land cover types was carried out using an interview method and analysis of the interpretation of land satellite imagery. The results showed that the baseline of oil palm plantations studied were shrubs/fields and secondary forests. The number of species (mammals and birds) in the oil palm area was higher than in the baseline area. The establishment of oil palm plantations originally in the form of shrubs or fields has affected the increasing diversity of mammals (3 species) and birds (11 species). The same results were also observed in areas that were originally in the form of secondary fields and forests, which also increased the number of species of mammals (5 species) and birds (18 species). Thus, it can be concluded that the land cover changes in 2 oil palm plantations studied has a positive impact on the mammals and birds’ species diversity.