Sago and Oil Palm Forests: Local-Global Economic Contestation in Marind-Anim Land, Papua

Abstract

The study explores the narrative of oil palm expansion in the Marind-Anim area, where the land and its natural surroundings are not empty spaces without meaning but an eternal identity that is preserved because it tells the historical relationship between local people and their ancestors. Owning land, even the smallest parcel, can enhance self-esteem and social security. This study traces the narrative of oil palm expansion in the Marind-Anim areas and examines the encounter between the indigenous Marind-Anim community and the global economic forces. This local-global intersection is examined using an ethnographic approach with data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The results show that the function of sago land as an economic foundation is decreasing due to the global economic pressures from the monoculture oil palm plantations. On the one hand, the Marind-Anim indigenous land has become a frontier area for global economic expansion aiming to supply the global food demand. On the other hand, the sago plantation as a safety valve for the traditional economy and local food security has been reduced by oil palm plantations.