The impact of oil palm on rural livelihoods and tropical forest landscapes in Latin America

This article examines whether oil palm expansion in Latin America reduces rural poverty or harms rural livelihoods and tropical forests. Drawing on literature and nine case studies, it highlights how varying policies, market structures, and production models shape outcomes. Industrial plantations in poorly governed forest frontiers pose higher risks, while smallholder-inclusive approaches can offer benefits—though often lead to tensions with indigenous and forest-dependent communities.