Palm Oil War

In Pará, Brazil’s top palm oil-producing state, Indigenous and traditional communities face mounting threats as companies expand into contested lands. Between 2021 and 2023, Mongabay’s Karla Mendes reported from the region, where the expansion of oil palm plantations has triggered pollution, deforestation and violent land conflicts. This series exposes how some of Brazil’s leading palm oil firms stand accused of pollution, land grabbing, and repression of Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian Quilombola communities. Cited in court rulings and prompting international certification suspensions, the reporting reveals the systemic failures that have enabled these abuses — and the growing calls for justice from communities on the frontlines.

Indigenous activists demand justice after 5 shot in Amazonian ‘palm oil war’

Indigenous chief shot in head in Brazil’s ‘palm oil war’ region; crisis group launched

Violence escalates in Amazonian communities’ land conflict with Brazil palm oil firm

RSPO suspension of Brazil palm oil exporter tied to Mongabay land-grabbing report

In Brazil’s Amazon, Quilombolas fight major palm oil firm for access to cemeteries

Major Brazil palm oil exporter accused of fraud, land-grabbing over Quilombola cemeteries

In Brazil, a heavily fined firm is also accused of waging a ‘palm oil war’ on communities

Behind the scenes video unveils water contamination by ‘sustainable’ Amazon palm oil

Palm oil plantations and their impacts have arrived in the Amazon

Déjà vu as palm oil industry brings deforestation, pollution to Amazon

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