147
lack of information (Cotula et al. 2008). There have also been allegations that logging companies and large plantations owners have displaced indigenous people
when establishing new oil palm plantations (USAID 2009; Winrock 2009). In some
cases oil palm plantations have been established without recognition of traditional
land borders, rights, and interests (WWF 2006; Tata et al. 2010). Feintrenie et al.
(2010) have also documented instances of social conflicts emerging in oil palm
landscapes between local communities, transmigrants, and oil palm companies.
Finally, the oil palm boom may have spurred speculative land acquisitions or even
land grabs (McCarthy et al. 2012b) with the transfer of tenure from local communities to large companies occasionally affecting the land tenure rights of women
(White and White 2012; Oosterveer et al. 2014).
10.3 Methodology
10.3.1 Methodological Approach
Section 10.2 has shown how palm oil biodiesel production/use can affect the ecosystem services upon which local populations depend for their well-being. Whether
these impacts are positive or negative
7
does not only depend on the environmental
and socioeconomic context of production/use but also on the technological processes and the policy instruments adopted during biodiesel production and trade
(Gasparatos et al. 2011). As a result it is often very difficult to provide clear-cut
answers regarding palm oil’s impact on ecosystem services and human well-being
and as an extension on palm oil biodiesel’s sustainability.
There is a consensus that when assessing the impact of human activity on ecosystem services, it is important to integrate different types of knowledge in order to
increase the effectiveness and transparency of decision-making (MA 2005b; TEEB
2010; Díaz et al. 2015). In fact the values and priorities of relevant stakeholder
groups need to be captured and understood in order to better inform ecosystem services management. As a result, a wide range of participatory mechanisms has been
developed both to enhance stakeholder participation and facilitate social learning at
different stages of the decision-making process (e.g., Reed 2008; Stringer et al.
2006). Several studies have mapped the sociopsychological dynamics for selected
communities. For example, Raymond et al. (2009) have proposed a “community
values mapping method” for identifying community values and threats to natural
capital assets and ecosystem services. Cuppen et al. (2010) have explored how
stakeholder dialogue about different energy options in the Netherlands can bring
diverse perspectives into the debate as a necessary precondition for understanding
the complex bioenergy issues within the country.
7 On several occasions the findings regarding palm oil biodiesel impacts are contradictory, for
instance, the case of biofuel-related GHG emissions (refer Section 10.2.2.2).
10 Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being Impacts…
lack of information (Cotula et al. 2008). There have also been allegations that logging companies and large plantations owners have displaced indigenous people
when establishing new oil palm plantations (USAID 2009; Winrock 2009). In some
cases oil palm plantations have been established without recognition of traditional
land borders, rights, and interests (WWF 2006; Tata et al. 2010). Feintrenie et al.
(2010) have also documented instances of social conflicts emerging in oil palm
landscapes between local communities, transmigrants, and oil palm companies.
Finally, the oil palm boom may have spurred speculative land acquisitions or even
land grabs (McCarthy et al. 2012b) with the transfer of tenure from local communities to large companies occasionally affecting the land tenure rights of women
(White and White 2012; Oosterveer et al. 2014).
10.3 Methodology
10.3.1 Methodological Approach
Section 10.2 has shown how palm oil biodiesel production/use can affect the ecosystem services upon which local populations depend for their well-being. Whether
these impacts are positive or negative
7
does not only depend on the environmental
and socioeconomic context of production/use but also on the technological processes and the policy instruments adopted during biodiesel production and trade
(Gasparatos et al. 2011). As a result it is often very difficult to provide clear-cut
answers regarding palm oil’s impact on ecosystem services and human well-being
and as an extension on palm oil biodiesel’s sustainability.
There is a consensus that when assessing the impact of human activity on ecosystem services, it is important to integrate different types of knowledge in order to
increase the effectiveness and transparency of decision-making (MA 2005b; TEEB
2010; Díaz et al. 2015). In fact the values and priorities of relevant stakeholder
groups need to be captured and understood in order to better inform ecosystem services management. As a result, a wide range of participatory mechanisms has been
developed both to enhance stakeholder participation and facilitate social learning at
different stages of the decision-making process (e.g., Reed 2008; Stringer et al.
2006). Several studies have mapped the sociopsychological dynamics for selected
communities. For example, Raymond et al. (2009) have proposed a “community
values mapping method” for identifying community values and threats to natural
capital assets and ecosystem services. Cuppen et al. (2010) have explored how
stakeholder dialogue about different energy options in the Netherlands can bring
diverse perspectives into the debate as a necessary precondition for understanding
the complex bioenergy issues within the country.
7 On several occasions the findings regarding palm oil biodiesel impacts are contradictory, for
instance, the case of biofuel-related GHG emissions (refer Section 10.2.2.2).
10 Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being Impacts…