Palm oil plantations increase flood risks and water contamination in Papua

The expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesian Papua has led to increased flooding and water contamination, affecting Indigenous communities downstream.

Hans Nicholas Jong reports for Mongabay.

In short:

• Oil palm plantations have replaced forests, causing a 21% increase in surface water runoff and nearly fivefold increase in flooding probability.
• Agrochemicals used in plantations have raised nitrogen and phosphorous levels in water, exceeding safe standards for human consumption.
• Indigenous communities face higher environmental and health risks due to lack of transparency and effective mitigation measures by plantation operators.

Key quote:

“The downstream Indigenous people who rely on the rivers and the streams in the watershed are highly vulnerable."

— Timothy Randhir, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Why this matters:

The health of downstream communities is jeopardized by contaminated water and increased flooding, indicating a pressing need for stricter regulations and better management practices to protect both the environment and public health. Read more: Balancing palm oil and protected forests to conserve orangutans.