Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Global Oil Palm Subclasses in 2020

Oil palm have the highest oil yield compared to other oil-producing crops. Previous studies lacked a more refined classification of oil palm Subclasses. In this study, we first map global oil palm of 2020 with four subclasses, including Industrial Mature Oil Palm (IMOP), Industrial Young Oil Palm (IYOP), Smallholder Mature Oil Palm (SMOP), and Smallholder Young Oil Palm (SYOP), at a spatial resolution of 4.77 meters. The results showed that the total area of global oil palm in 2020 was estimated to be 72.71 million hectares (Mha). The extent of IMOP, IYOP, SMOP, and SYOP was 22.21, 12.18, 26.20, and 12.12 Mha, accounting for 31%, 17%, 35%, and 17%, respectively. SMOP had the highest producer accuracy (PA) and user accuracy (UA) at 76.8% and 79.9%, respectively. Young age oil palm (IYOP, SYOP) were first mapped at global scale. Generally, four oil palm classes were planted at an altitude of 0-500 m. However, IMOP, IYOP, SMOP and SYOP were found at the altitude of 500-1300 m, 500-800 m, 500-1000 m, 500-900 m, respectively.