Many countries in the South ‘host’ foreign and domestic investors who – among others inspired by actions to reduce CO2 emissions – make large-scale investments in the expansion of bio-fuel production (e.g. oil palm plantations), sustainable forest management and land rehabilitation for CO2 compensation. Paul Burgers, Rizki Pandu Permana and Tran Nam Tu argue that such large-scale land acquisitions do not necessarily contribute to poverty reduction and cause conflicts with forest dependent communities.