Sustainable oil palm cultivation through a One Health perspective: Linking biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and public health

CONTEXT Oil palm cultivation plays a central role in global food systems and rural economies, particularly in Southeast Asia. However, the rapid expansion of conventional monoculture plantations has been associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem degradation, and pollution. These environmental changes may also increase the risk of zoonotic disease emergence by disrupting ecosystems and increasing human–wildlife interactions (Allen et al., 2017; Plowright et al., 2024). These interconnected environmental and health challenges highlight the need for integrated approaches that consider the relationships among ecosystem integrity, animal health, and human well-being. OBJECTIVE The present article examines oil palm cultivation through a One Health perspective in order to analyze how agricultural expansion affects biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, animal health, and public health. It also explores how sustainable management approaches, including certification systems and agroforestry-based diversification of production, can mitigate environmental degradation while improving socio-ecological resilience. METHODS The study is based on an interdisciplinary literature review integrating research from ecology, environmental sciences, epidemiology, agroforestry, and sustainability studies. The article synthesizes current knowledge on the ecological, social, and health impacts of conventional oil palm systems and evaluates sustainable alternatives such as RSPO, ISPO, and MSPO certification schemes, ecological restoration practices, and diversified agroforestry systems within a One Health conceptual framework. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Conventional oil palm systems contribute to habitat fragmentation, biodiversity decline, disruption of ecosystem functions, and pollution. These changes may indirectly influence pathogen dynamics and opportunities for zoonotic spillover by altering host–pathogen interactions and ecological regulation mechanisms (Keesing et al., 2010; Johnson et al., 2020; Plowright et al., 2024). Simplified monoculture plantations generally support fewer species and weaken ecological interactions that naturally regulate disease vectors and reservoir populations. In degraded ecosystems, biodiversity loss may favor the proliferation of reservoir species that efficiently transmit pathogens, thereby altering disease dynamics and increasing spillover risks (Johnson et al., 2020). Conversely, more diverse ecosystems may contribute to disease regulation by influencing host, vector, and pathogen interactions and by maintaining ecological processes that affect pathogen transmission. However, the relationship between biodiversity and disease risk is complex and context dependent, varying among pathogens, host communities, and environmental conditions (Keesing et al., 2010; Salkeld et al., 2013). These dynamics highlight the importance of considering ecosystem integrity and ecological complexity when assessing disease emergence and transmission risks in agricultural landscapes. Agroforestry systems also enhance livelihood diversification and socio-economic resilience for rural communities. The study concludes that transforming oil palm landscapes into multifunctional socio-ecological systems is essential for reconciling agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability and public health objectives. SIGNIFICANCE This article demonstrates the relevance of the One Health framework for understanding the complex interactions linking agricultural production, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functioning, and human health. By integrating ecological, epidemiological, and socio-economic dimensions, the study provides a comprehensive perspective on sustainable oil palm cultivation and highlights agroforestry and biodiversity-based approaches as promising pathways toward resilient tropical agricultural systems.