Herakles Farms Press Briefing in USA

Joshua Linder, right, assistant professor of Anthropology at James Madison University and Nasako Besingi, Director of Struggle to Economize Future Enviorment (SEFE) at a press briefing at the National Press Club on the social and environmental impacts of the Herakles Farms Palm Oil development in the coastal rainforest of southwestern Cameroon.

Unique identifier: GP04H1C

Type: Image

Shoot date: 19/02/2013

Locations: North America, United States of America, Washington, D.C.

Credit line: © Max Berg / Greenpeace

Size: 3267px × 2178px 4MB

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

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Herakles Farms Press Briefing in USA

Speakers at a press briefing at the National Press Club, discuss the social and environmental impacts of the Herakles Farms Palm Oil project in Cameroon. American-owned Herakles Farms plans to develop a huge oil palm plantation in an area eight times the size of Manhattan. Herakles took over the project from Sithe Global Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC) who signed a convention with the country’s government in 2009 to develop about 70,000 hectares. The legality of that convention has been questioned and despite claims by the company that most of the concession is secondary and degraded forest, research shows it will affect forests that have been identified as vital for endangered wildlife and serve as corridors to five crucial protected areas. Herakles claims the project will boost the economy and create jobs, but the company's plans have been met with widespread opposition from local NGOs and residents. Greenpeace is among the many voices calling for this development to be stopped.

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