The potential of HCV areas as ecotourism destinations: preliminary identification in Sumatra oil palm plantation

Abstract Indonesia is the largest palm oil-producing country, with a plantation area of 16.38 million hectares. Only a little is known about the prospects for the value of environmental services from oil palm plantations, partly due to the assumption that oil palm plantations harm the environment and biodiversity. RSPO and ISPO certification are efforts to reduce the negative impacts caused by oil palm plantations. High Conservation Value (HCV) is one of the requirements for RSPO certification to create sustainable oil palm plantations. Amid climate change mitigation efforts, remnant forests such as HCV areas can potentially have environmental service values as ecological tourism. We analyze data and information from several oil palm plantations in Sumatra and identify potential HCV areas of oil palm plantations as unique interest ecotourism objects, especially mammals that are known as charismatic and interesting tourism objects and destinations. We found that the HCV area of oil palm plantations in Sumatra has a significant potential for environmental service value to be developed as a wildlife-based ecotourism (WBE) destination. This effort is beneficial economically, ecologically, and socially.