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The (In)Ability of a Multi-Stakeholder Platform to Address Land Conflicts—Lessons Learnt from an Oil Palm Landscape in Myanmar

Author

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  • Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen

    (Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Christoph Oberlack

    (Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Glenn Hunt

    (Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Flurina Schneider

    (Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Institute for Social-Ecological Research, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany
    Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany)

Abstract

Oil palm landscapes are often characterised by land conflicts. Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSP) may be a promising means to contribute to conflict resolution. However, the merits of MSPs are limited in contexts with strong power imbalances and entrenched conflict histories. This study analyses an MSP from Myanmar. We developed an analytical framework based on literature on MSPs and social learning and used qualitative methods such as participatory observation and interviews. The study investigates how the MSP was designed and governed and whether it was effective in addressing the land conflicts around oil palm concessions. The study discusses several promising factors of the MSP for being effective, such as adequate inclusion of stakeholders, secured resources, or effective facilitation. However, the analysis also reveals how hindering factors such as lack of a clear mandate, goal, and decision-making competences of the MSP, insufficient communication, or lack of legal and land governance expertise contributed to only limited effectiveness of the MSP. Further, we discuss whether the MSP was a suitable approach in the given context of nontransparent land governance mechanisms, persisting power disparities, and longstanding conflict history. We conclude that designing and governing an MSP in such a context needs to be done very cautiously—if at all—and recommend paying special attention to ten specific points.

Suggested Citation

  • Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen & Christoph Oberlack & Glenn Hunt & Flurina Schneider, 2022. "The (In)Ability of a Multi-Stakeholder Platform to Address Land Conflicts—Lessons Learnt from an Oil Palm Landscape in Myanmar," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-40, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:8:p:1348-:d:891858
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agus Andrianto & Heru Komarudin & Pablo Pacheco, 2019. "Expansion of Oil Palm Plantations in Indonesia’s Frontier: Problems of Externalities and the Future of Local and Indigenous Communities," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen & Flurina Schneider & Julie G. Zaehringer & Christoph Oberlack & Win Myint & Peter Messerli, 2018. "Whose Agency Counts in Land Use Decision-Making in Myanmar? A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases in Tanintharyi Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-30, October.
    3. Nathalie Steins & Victoria Edwards, 1999. "Platforms for collective action in multiple-use common-pool resources," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 16(3), pages 241-255, September.
    4. Stefan Bächtold & Joan Bastide & Lara Lundsgaard-Hansen, 2020. "Assembling Drones, Activists and Oil Palms: Implications of a Multi-stakeholder Land Platform for State Formation in Myanmar," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(2), pages 359-378, April.
    5. Flurina Schneider & Mélanie Feurer & Lara Maria Lundsgaard-Hansen & Win Myint & Cing Don Nuam & Katharina Nydegger & Christoph Oberlack & Nwe Nwe Tun & Julie Gwendolin Zähringer & Aung Myin Tun & Pete, 2020. "Sustainable Development Under Competing Claims on Land: Three Pathways Between Land-Use Changes, Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(2), pages 316-337, April.
    6. Nathalie Steins & Victoria Edwards, 1999. "Synthesis: Platforms for collective action in multiple-use common-pool resources," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 16(3), pages 309-315, September.
    7. Nicolas Faysse, 2006. "Troubles on the way: An analysis of the challenges faced by multi‐stakeholder platforms," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 30(3), pages 219-229, August.
    8. Lakshmy Naidu & Ravichandran Moorthy, 2021. "A Review of Key Sustainability Issues in Malaysian Palm Oil Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.
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