Oil palm plantations and negotiations for access to land in Indonesia: Reflexions based on a case study in Kapuas Hulu (West Kalimantan)

Abstract

Oil palm plantations and negotiations for access to land in Indonesia: Reflexions based on a case study in Kapuas Hulu (West Kalimantan) This paper is based on a field study in palm plantations that have been newly established in West Kalimantan by the subsidiaries of a firm committed to respecting the Roundtable for sustainable palm oil's (RSPO) criteria. It aims at examining negotiation processes for land access between local people and the private plantation company. Most villagers are willing to cooperate with the company, handing over parts of their lands in exchange for promises, such as jobs and future revenues from the "plasma'' plantations (the company develops the plots and then the villagers manage and own the harvest). However, as reported in most previous studies, the negotiation between the villagers and the company is based on strong information asymmetries. Contract terms defined unilaterally by the firm are poorly known by villagers and in cases of conflict with the company, local authorities fail to protect the interests of local people. The conditions required for free and informed consent are thus not met, contrary to the goals of RSPO certification.