In pictures: Palm oil's impact on Jangkang

View of the houses on the shore of the Kapuas river

The community of Jangkang in central Kalimantan, on the Indonesia part of Borneo, is divided by the fast-flowing Kapuas River and now by a debate over the benefits, or damage, that palm oil can bring.

View of Jangkang village river boats on Kapuas river

The village is poor but campaigners argue that palm oil could bring prosperity if the local community is consulted and land rights are respected.

Hotel owner Gunarjo and his young daughter

The business generated by palm oil has already brought a higher standard of living to Jangkang hotel owner Gunarjo and his family.

Gunarjo has hired workers to build a new home for his family. They will live on the top floor and the ground floor will be a shop.

Children outside Jangkang school, half in uniform

Palm oil plantation companies are supposed to provide support for community health and education projects.

Village elder Juel Banjang sitting next to his wife

But village elder Juel Banjang is against palm oil because he thinks the palm oil companies cannot be trusted to deliver on their promises of improving village life and providing work for local people.

Toddler standing on balcony of house in Jangkang

More than 30% of Indonesia's population is under the age of 15. A sustainable palm oil industry has the potential to lift many of them out of poverty and into the growing rural middle class.

Children and young men hanging out at a small shop

Palm oil is labour intensive and can create much-needed jobs for young people. However, the key to prosperity is land ownership and campaigners claim the land rights of local people are often ignored by the palm oil companies, which can lead to conflicts.

Mother and two young children sitting on a balcony

The promise of palm oil prosperity can make a difference in this poor village, but that will happen only if land conflicts are resolved and local people consulted.

Dayak man Juel Banjang at his family temple

The Dayaks, the indigenous people of Kalimantan, feel their land rights are often ignored by oil palm companies.

Drying fish spread out on big straw mats

Environmentalists say pollution from palm oil plantations damages the river which supplies the village with water.

Land that used to be rainforest on edge of rainforest

A lot of rain forest has already been cleared for palm oil, but a stop on further expansion and a drive to increase productivity among the smallholders can benefit the environment and help create a rural middle class that may demand better governance.