Christiane Badgley, a journalist who has worked on stories and projects in Africa for more than 20 years, has had her article on Herakles Farms and their planned palm oil plantation in Cameroon published in Foreign Policy magazine.
"A New York tycoon won a sweetheart deal to build a massive "sustainable" palm oil plantation in Cameroon. What followed were accusations of intimidation, corruption, bribery, and deceit."
This is the first story EarthAction shares in a series of recent articles about the unfolding situation in Cameroon. Click here to subscribe to our RSS Feed so you won’t miss a post.
In 2009 Herakles Farms negotiated a deal with the Cameroonian government to cultivate a palm oil plantation in a region known for its rain forests and diverse animal population. The plantation would be more than 12 times the size of Manhattan. Herakles Farms claimed that upon implementation, the plantation would be one of the biggest commercial palm oil operations in Africa.
The project has been very controversial. Locals have accused the company of using donations of goods and services to gather support. Scientists have argued against Herakles' claims of environmental sustainability. Many observers question the economic benefits promised, fearing the project is much more likely to strip local communities of land and livehiloods than it is to lift them out of poverty.
Christiane Badgley: "Standing there, amid the desolation, I recalled the voices of local villagers: The forest is our life. Because of the deal their government struck with Herakles Farms, that life is now in danger."
Click here to view the article.
TAKE ACTION Our friends at Greenpeace have set up a quick and easy way for you to send a message to the Cameroon Minister of Forest and Wildlife and other important policymakers to save this forest.
Photo by Christiane Badgley
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