Land is life: Land rights and oil palm development in Sarawak

This report reveals escalating conflicts between indigenous peoples and oil palm companies due to the rapid expansion of plantations in the Malaysian State of Sarawak. Based on field interviews with community representatives in 12 different villages the report details:

• rapid rate of expansion of oil palm plantations in Sarawak
• reasons for the conflicts over native customary lands
• why some 40 legal cases about land conflicts between communities and oil palm companies are now clogging the courts in Sarawak
• concerns raised by the communities about the plantations
• how the process of oil palm development in Sarawak is contrary to international standards adopted by the Rountable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
• recommendations for reform