The villagers of Indonesia’s Semunying Jaya found themselves facing a relentless battle of reclaiming their rainforest from palm oil giants. The once-thriving community relied on the forest for their livelihoods, but in 2004, the government initiated a land grab, allowing companies to replace the rainforest with oil palm plantations. Furthermore, the use of pesticides has poisoned the environment, making it impossible for the villagers to cultivate crops, consequently leading to a decline in wildlife. Determined to fight for their rights, the villagers have joined forces with NGOs and environmental organisations, taking the legal steps to reclaim their land. How successful is their battle?
Authors
Spoils of Destruction
