Abstract
The Orang Rimba have lived in the forests of Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia for centuries. These ancestral lands are threatened by deforestation driven primarily by expanding palm oil operations in the region. This causes displacement of Orang Rimba groups leading to land disputes, lifestyle changes, and environmental impacts for the landscape. Through this paper I strive to demonstrate the importance of the Orang Rimba’s access to their forest habitats using two approaches: ethnographic-centered accounts and interviews, and outside advocacy-based informants weighing in on the legal and environmental consequences of displacement. I also touch on political issues like colonialism and government policies involved in the growing of palm oil in Indonesia. Several sources offer suggestions for improvement and the future of palm oil use around the world to mediate this problem.
Recommended Citation
Cusanelli, Clara
(2022)
""Forest People" Without A Forest,"
Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 5, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarship.shu.edu/locus/vol5/iss1/5