Chief Representative in Cameroon

Janvier Etamane Etampane, 46 years old, permanent representative of the chief of Apouh-A-Ngog village, stands in the middle of Oungé river, Cameroon. “I am merely a grain of sand in the sea: one may step on me, but then only I will stop saying what I think”. Apouh community has been fighting for decades to defend their rights against Socapalm (Société Camerounaise de Palmeraies) and Ferme Suisse oil palm expansion.

Unique identifier: GP0STPVRO

Type: Image

Shoot date: 15/03/2016

Locations: Africa, Apouh-A-Ngog, Cameroon

Credit line: © Micha Patault / Greenpeace

Ranking: ★★★★★★ (B)

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Socfin's Investiments Threaten Cameroon's Forests

In March 2016 Greenpeace lead an investigation on Socfin's plantations in Cameroon and published a report titled “Africa’s forests under threat: Socfin’s plantations in Cameroon and Liberia”. The Société Financière des Caoutchoucs (Socfin), one of the leading oil palm and rubber tree plantation operators in Africa, plans to extend its plantations in a dozen countries, mostly African nations, threatening forests that are essential for the preservation of climate balances, biodiversity and the living conditions of local populations. Greenpeace conducted map-based analyses and in-depth field surveys on Socfin's concessions in Cameroon. The case study reveals that Socfin’s business and its refusal to adopt a zero deforestation policy represent a major threat for Cameroon's forests in which the company operates. Greenpeace urges Socfin to adopt immediately and implement a zero deforestation policy, applicable to all its businesses and subsidiaries.

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