Analysis of available data, however, suggests that oil palm development accounts for only 4% of worldwide forest loss (Corley, 2006) and about 8% of the forest loss in Indonesia over the period 1990-2000 (T. Fairhurst & Hardter, 2003).

Huge forested areas have been earmarked for oil palm development, especially in Sumatera, Kalimantan (Casson, 2000) and more recently in the province of Papua (Sheil et al., 2009).

Key concerns are: deforestation, loss of biodiversity, increased greenhouse gas emissions and land right conflicts (Molenaar et al., 2010).