Abstract
The term 'eco-friendly' can have two different associations for scientists and managers, or for consumers and the environmentalists. On one hand it has a technical meaning that production processes in the mill and plantation sectors that are sound in terms of resource use-efficiencies, recycling of materials and reduction in pesticides use, so that off-site environmental effects of greenhouse gas emissions, erosion and contamination of ground water are minimised. There have been many innovations in mill technologies, oil palm agronomy and pest management over past decades that are increasingly meeting these criteria of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). In addition, because oil palm plantations are functionally analogous to forests, and remain undisturbed for several decades, they can provide many essential ecosystem services to local/national stakeholders in terms of direct use-values (products, economics) and indirect use-values (e.g. soil fertility, carbon sequestration, biodegradation); though the economic importance of these indirect services, such as maintenance of water quality, have not been valued (or are not documented) as component of national resource assets. On the other hand option values (e.g. gene pools) and existence values (e.g. biodiversity) for oil palm plantations are low and loss of these values when natural systems are converted is contentious because of the different priorities of producer and consumer groups. Negative perceptions of oil palm being 'ecofriendly' also reflect the extent to which the development in the oil palm sector contributes to off-site effects including diffuse pollution of ground and surface waters by fertilisers, pesticides and mill effluents, damage to river stems from erosion and loss of biodiversity associated with forest conversion. The largest, negative environmental impacts of oil palm development on biodiversity, erosion and greenhouse gas fluxes are associated with these processes landcover conversion on mineral soils and peats, and some mitigation measures are discussed. To a large extent the position of the oil palm industry is poorly documented in these areas and technical information on carbon pools in vegetation and soils, groundwater quality, erosion control and characterisation of land use systems before conversion is lacking. In some cases, reclamation of degraded land on mineral soils could be a positive gain in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services but any such cases have not been widely publicised. In conclusion, the most 'eco-friendly' approach to sustainable palm oil production is, through the adoption of best practices to improve average yield of existing plantations that are well below their potential. Environmental audits, such as GHG emissions, nutrient leaching and ground water monitoring should be carried out and, where already adopted, should be more accessible for external evaluation. Land-use conversion is potentially the most environmentally damaging aspect of development. The 'eco-friendly' image of the oil palm industry could be improved by being more open to dialogue with environmentalists on how increasing world demands for palm oil can be achieved. Measures could include classification and planning of land use, adoption of best practices in 'forest' conversion, critical assessment of the environmental economics of deep peat developmen,t and working with forestry, NGOs and other sectors to conserve and/ or rehabilitate biodiversity corridoors and refugia.Incluye referencias bibliográficas.The term 'eco-friendly' can have two different associations for scientists and managers, or for consumers and the environmentalists. On one hand it has a technical meaning that production processes in the mill and plantation sectors that are sound in terms of resource use-efficiencies, recycling of materials and reduction in pesticides use, so that off-site environmental effects of greenhouse gas emissions, erosion and contamination of ground water are minimised. There have been many innovations in mill technologies, oil palm agronomy and pest management over past decades that are increasingly meeting these criteria of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). In addition, because oil palm plantations are functionally analogous to forests, and remain undisturbed for several decades, they can provide many essential ecosystem services to local/national stakeholders in terms of direct use-values (products, economics) and indirect use-values (e.g. soil fertility, carbon sequestration, biodegradation); though the economic importance of these indirect services, such as maintenance of water quality, have not been valued (or are not documented) as component of national resource assets. On the other hand option values (e.g. gene pools) and existence values (e.g. biodiversity) for oil palm plantations are low and loss of these values when natural systems are converted is contentious because of the different priorities of producer and consumer groups. Negative perceptions of oil palm being 'ecofriendly' also reflect the extent to which the development in the oil palm sector contributes to off-site effects including diffuse pollution of ground and surface waters by fertilisers, pesticides and mill effluents, damage to river stems from erosion and loss of biodiversity associated with forest conversion. The largest, negative environmental impacts of oil palm development on biodiversity, erosion and greenhouse gas fluxes are associated with these processes landcover conversion on mineral soils and peats, and some mitigation measures are discussed. To a large extent the position of the oil palm industry is poorly documented in these areas and technical information on carbon pools in vegetation and soils, groundwater quality, erosion control and characterisation of land use systems before conversion is lacking. In some cases, reclamation of degraded land on mineral soils could be a positive gain in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services but any such cases have not been widely publicised. In conclusion, the most 'eco-friendly' approach to sustainable palm oil production is, through the adoption of best practices to improve average yield of existing plantations that are well below their potential. Environmental audits, such as GHG emissions, nutrient leaching and ground water monitoring should be carried out and, where already adopted, should be more accessible for external evaluation. Land-use conversion is potentially the most environmentally damaging aspect of development. The 'eco-friendly' image of the oil palm industry could be improved by being more open to dialogue with environmentalists on how increasing world demands for palm oil can be achieved. Measures could include classification and planning of land use, adoption of best practices in 'forest' conversion, critical assessment of the environmental economics of deep peat developmen,t and working with forestry, NGOs and other sectors to conserve and/ or rehabilitate biodiversity corridoors and refugia.