Coconut farming has caused deforestation on over 80% of Pacific atolls, with palms now dominating more than half of the forested areas. A groundbreaking study by Nature Conservancy and UC Santa Barbara, published in Environmental Research Letters on December 4, 2024, unveiled detailed maps of coconut plantations across 235 atolls, revealing the ecological impact of two centuries of colonial-driven copra production.
An atoll, a ring-shaped coral reef or series of islets, has seen significant ecosystem changes due to land-use shifts. Coconut palms, once a valued subsistence crop, have become a monoculture export commodity, replacing native vegetation essential for wildlife habitats, nutrient cycling, and water resources. Coconut plantations now cover 58.3% of forested areas and 24.1% of total land on these atolls.
Intensive historical plantation practices increased coconut canopy cover by 32.1% on average. Larger, wetter islands face groundwater depletion as coconut palms consume substantial water resources. Some regions, such as Tokelau and the Solomon Islands, have coconut canopies exceeding 66%, while others like New Caledonia show minimal impact.
Despite declining plantation maintenance, aging coconut monocultures persist, suppressing native vegetation. Restoring abandoned plantations offers an opportunity to revive native broadleaf forests, conserving water and promoting biodiversity. Diversified agroforestry could balance coconut cultivation with ecological restoration.
Achieving 55% native vegetation cover on coral islands, coupled with invasive predator removal, could restore vital seabird-driven ecosystems, addressing nutrient and water deficits across 929 affected islands.
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