Factors affecting the expansion of oil-palm plantations in Ecuador: deforestation and socio-cultural impacts.

Description: Consumption and demand for palm-oil is increasing exponentially around the world leading to deforestation and socio-cultural impacts in producer countries like Ecuador, where oil-palm plantations have expanded 59-fold since 1975. From this study it is apparent that national and international demand, followed by national price, are the variables most influencing this expansion, which has been achieved at the expense of the environment and people. Between 1990 and 2008, nearly 50,000 ha of forest was replaced by oil palm plantations in the north coast and amazon. In Quininde canton, this expansion led to migration, loss of sovereignty in terms of food and jobs, and diminishment of small agriculture through land monopolization.