Mitigating the risks of indirect land use change (ILUC) related deforestation from industrial palm oil expansion by sharing land access with displaced crop and cattle farmers

Time to Revisit Oil Palm-Livestock Integration in the Wake of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“…Electric fencing systems can be used to contain the movement of livestock animals and thus concentrate grazing pressure in defined areas for a set duration of time. Only mature oil palm fields (aged more than 6 years) are suitable for the integration with livestock because young palms are vulnerable to damage from grazing and browsing (Tohiran et al, 2017;Azhar et al, 2021). Approximately 13 million ha of mature oil palm fields were available in 15 major oil palm producing countries (Azhar et al, 2021).…”

“…Targeted grazing is the application of a particular kind of grazing animal, for a specified duration and stocking level to purposely exert grazing/browsing pressure on specific plant species or portions of the landscape (Frost et al, 2012;Bailey et al, 2019). In oil palm plantations, the stocking density proposed for cattle is 30-35 animal units per 125 ha and cattle are moved systematically to a new silvopasture plot every three days (Tohiran et al, 2019a;Azhar et al, 2021). Besides cattle, other livestock species (e.g., buffalo, sheep, goat or mixed-species grazing) can be integrated with palm oil cultivation (Azhar et al, 2021).…”

“…In oil palm plantations, the stocking density proposed for cattle is 30-35 animal units per 125 ha and cattle are moved systematically to a new silvopasture plot every three days (Tohiran et al, 2019a;Azhar et al, 2021). Besides cattle, other livestock species (e.g., buffalo, sheep, goat or mixed-species grazing) can be integrated with palm oil cultivation (Azhar et al, 2021). This may necessitate further study to measure the suitable stocking density and stocking day because livestock integration with palm oil agriculture relies on soil type and topography of a particular plantation (Azhar et al, 2021).…”

“…Besides cattle, other livestock species (e.g., buffalo, sheep, goat or mixed-species grazing) can be integrated with palm oil cultivation (Azhar et al, 2021). This may necessitate further study to measure the suitable stocking density and stocking day because livestock integration with palm oil agriculture relies on soil type and topography of a particular plantation (Azhar et al, 2021). Integrated oil palm-livestock systems can financially benefit local businesses and bring economic prosperity to rural areas in oil palm-producing countries (Latif and Mamat, 2002;Wulandari, 2021).…”

“…The controversy oil palm agriculture draws internationally, is commonly a social and ecological justice narrative of criticism about the destruction of forest landscape and its biodiversity (Corciolani et al, 2019;Pye, 2019;Gatti and Velichevskaya, 2020;Qaim et al, 2020;Ramdani and Lounela, 2020). Because oil palm industry substantially contributes to the economic prosperity and the alleviation of rural poverty in major producing countries (e.g., Indonesia and Malaysia), the industry deserves an opportunity to improve its environmental and social sustainability, similar to those given to other commodity crops (e.g., cacao and coffee) (Donald, 2004;Azhar et al, 2017Azhar et al, , 2021Qaim et al, 2020;Mehraban et al, 2021).…”