A resident of Lipenja 1 village speaks during a meeting held by Greenpeace and local NGO Sefe, to provide information on the implications of US company Herakles Farms’ plans to develop a large oil palm plantation in a largely forested area.
Greenpeace has undertaken an information-sharing tour amongst communities who will be affected by the Herakles Farms project. The meetings have shown that a majority of village residents, while not opposed to the project, knew little of the devastating impact the project could have on their land, livelihood and local environment. The prior consent of local residents who will be affected is a standard precondition for any company undertaking a large-scale land deal in Africa. Herakles Farms has failed to conduct a sufficient process in this regard.