Communities fought multinational companies and security forces due to the loss their traditional forest. In 2012, over 600 major land conflicts, with more than 5,000 human rights were abuse, numerous death and injuries were recorded in Indonesia’s palm plantations.

“The legacy of deforestation has been conflict, increases poverty, migration to cities and the erosion of habitat for animals. As the forests come down, social conflicts are exploding everywhere,” said Abetnego Tarigan, director of Walhi, Indonesia’s largest environmental group (Vidal J., 2013).

Picture credit: The Goldman Environmental Prize