POIA urges fact-based debate on Southern oil palm cultivation
The Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIA) has called for greater reliance on scientific evidence and site-specific observations in discussions about the environmental impact of oil palm cultivation, following a recent visit to established plantations in the Southern Region.
The visit, organised for media representatives, highlighted the presence of understory vegetation, compatible crops, functioning water resources and diverse habitats within and around established oil palm cultivation areas. The visit mainly highlighted the need to separate environmental facts from longstanding misconceptions surrounding the crop.
Oil palm cultivation is sometimes portrayed as inevitably leaving land bare and infertile, reducing water availability and damaging biodiversity. However, observations made during the visit indicated that environmental conditions can vary significantly depending on land management practices, terrain, soil conditions, palm age and the protection of surrounding natural habitats. The conditions observed across established Southern cultivation areas present a more positive, site-specific environmental picture.
Significant ground cover and understory vegetation were observed beneath cultivated palms. When properly managed, such vegetation can help protect soil from direct rainfall, reduce erosion and surface runoff, retain moisture and support soil biological activity.
Areas of underplanting and compatible intercrops were also observed, demonstrating that suitable vegetation can coexist with oil palm under appropriate conditions. Representatives also observed ground cover management, the strategic placement of pruned palm fronds to return organic matter to the soil, and soil and water conservation measures suited to local terrain.
Clean water resources were also observed within, alongside and beyond the cultivated areas. According to POIA, this highlights why broad claims that oil palm cultivation automatically causes nearby wells and streams to dry up should be assessed against actual local conditions.
POIA acknowledged, however, that responsible plantation management requires the protection of natural drainage systems and waterway buffer zones, careful management of fertiliser and agrochemical use, and regular monitoring of water quality and availability.
Well-managed cover crops can also contribute organic biomass to plantation soils, supporting soil organic matter, nutrient cycling and long-term soil fertility. Observations during the visit further indicated that surrounding communities continue to use water sources located within the plantation landscape for domestic purposes.
The ecological importance of plantation landscapes is also reflected in freshwater research conducted at the Nakiyadeniya and Homadola estates. The research contributed to the scientific identification of Schistura scripta, commonly known as the Sri Lanka Mountain Loach, an endemic freshwater fish recorded within the Gin River basin.
POIA said the presence of the species highlights the ecological importance of protecting streams, riparian zones and connected natural habitats within cultivated landscapes. Such areas can provide habitats and vegetation cover supporting aquatic organisms, birds, insects and other wildlife, particularly where waterways, riparian buffers and natural areas are maintained.
POIA Chief Operating Officer Yajith de Silva, presenting facts during the visit, said that environmental concerns relating to plantation crops should be taken seriously, but conclusions should be based on scientific evidence, site-specific conditions and actual land-management practices.
“The understory vegetation, compatible crops, functioning water resources and biodiversity observed in the Southern Region demonstrate why broad assumptions cannot replace proper environmental assessment,” he said.
He also noted that Sri Lanka’s oil palm sector operates largely within established agricultural and plantation landscapes, and this local context differs from overseas cases involving large-scale clearing of virgin forests.
While this distinction does not remove the need for environmental safeguards, he stressed that international concerns should not be directly applied to Sri Lankan conditions without considering local land-use patterns and environmental circumstances.
POIA also highlighted the economic role of oil palm in Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, noting its relatively high productivity per unit of land. It said responsible cultivation in appropriately selected areas could help meet domestic demand while reducing pressure on land resources.
Responsible oil palm cultivation should be based on appropriate land selection, sound soil and water management, biodiversity protection, transparent monitoring and compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
POIA welcomes transparent scrutiny of the industry and believes future decisions on oil palm cultivation should be guided by credible data, scientific assessment and continuous improvement rather than myths or generalisations.