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LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES in CAMEROON.

LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES in CAMEROON. Dialogue Parliament-Government on land reforms in Cameroon JUNE 11-12, 2013. LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION THREATEN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. Jaff Bamenjo, RELUFA. Background.

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LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES in CAMEROON.

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  1. LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES in CAMEROON. Dialogue Parliament-Government on land reforms in Cameroon JUNE 11-12, 2013 LARGE SCALE LAND ACQUISITION THREATEN LOCAL COMMUNITIES Jaff Bamenjo, RELUFA

  2. Background • Large scale land acquisition for agro projects: an unfolding phenomenon • Key assumption is that industrial agro projects brings employment and development • Concern is its infringement in land/resources rights of local communities

  3. Emerging trends • Growing global demand for bio-fuels and also food • Promoted by private companies (USA, France, Malaysia etc and some states (China, Bahrain, India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) • Clash: customary land rights  commercial land deals • Conflict: local communities  Multi-National Companies

  4. Large scale plantation

  5. Pull factors in Cameroon • Available and suitable land and an attractive destination for oil palm developers. • Enablingenvironmentwithincentivesthatattractsforeigninvestments

  6. However current context problematic… • Ordinance N. 74/1 of 6 July 1974 art 1. State is the custodian of land and its intervention is necessary for its rational management • Land legislation not sufficiently protective of customary land ownership and hence not adapted to current realities • Increasing food and land insecurity • Need for land reforms that takes in to consideration local land needs

  7. Some large Scale land deals in Cameroon -Problem of data (secrecy ) - Between 1.6 to 2 million Ha of land are requested - Land targeted for sugar cane, banana, palm oil, rubber, rice etc • Herakles USA (73.000 HA)- • SIME DARBY Malaysia (300.000 HA)- • CARGILL USA (50.000 HA)- • HEVECAM (59400 HA) • PHP France (6000 HA) • SOCAPALM (78.329 HA)

  8. Contracts…… • Concession or land lease • It canbe short (between 5 to 10 years) or long term (25 to 99 years) • Case of SGSOC and SOSUCAM : 99 years • Case of PHP : 25 years, SOCAPALM :60 years ;

  9. Facts Case study for Land Deals in Cameroon Herakles Oil Palms South West Region • 73.000 HA • Local resistance • Herakles 13th labor: A study of SGSOCS land concession in South West Cameroon www.ced.org, www.relufa.org

  10. Some impacts • Food shortages • Food insecurity

  11. Challenge • The food security/food sovereignty situation in the region is already fragile and the project risks exacerbating it • Economic growth preferred to food security and local harmony? - From agric entrepreneurs to plantation laborers? - Cost benefit analysis (low land rents) SGSOC V SOCAPALM

  12. Population

  13. Social impacts….. • Loss of customary land/resources • Case of the Bagyéli in KILOMBO. • - Losttheirrights and access to the forestthrough the implantation of SOCAPALM- in KIENKE in the South Region

  14. Cameroon: • Land is simply life for most of the local communities • State is the custodian of all land but population rely on their customary land rights • 70% of the active population is involved in agriculture • Large scale land acquisition by private companies can lead to breached rights for local communities

  15. Social impacts….. • Restriction of access to land and resources like in the village of Fabe, location of nursery of Herakles, • Communities in Nkoteng complain of being reduced to 40 Ha for 1500 inhabitants due to expansion of SOCUCAM sugar plantation • youths in Dibombari and Bonalea are inactive following expansion of SOCAPALM

  16. Consequences: Third Parties Ignored • Large Scale Investments impact third parties • Communities • Other Investors (problem of overlapping) • Third parties rights’ violated • Consultation • Compensation

  17. SGSOC & Optimum Mining Conflict Optimum Mining Nwangale Permit SGSOC Palm Oil Concession – Article 23.3 of SGSOC’s contract gives the company a right to compensation if SGSOC suffers “any hindrance, whatsoever, through the action or inaction of government”

  18. Advocacy On Land Issues Observation Advocacy scenario’s • Little role for host communities in negotiating land deals • No protective legislation on customary land ownership • Absence of clear obligations and predefined sanctions • No consensual land policy despite existence of land legislation • Improve the policy framework • Land use planning • Transparency in contracts/conventions • Support to small holders

  19. Proposals • Strengthen land registration through appropriate legislation on customary land tenure for local communities • Moratorium on new concessions until a national land cadastre to conduct proper zoning and allocation for various activities • Reduce the scale and duration of land concessions • Inform local communities, engage them and obtain their free, prior, informed consent before any large scale project goes ahead • Support small scale agriculture

  20. Thank you for listening

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