2023-07-09
KOUNGOULOU - Europe’s growing demand for natural rubber to produce tyres has been destroying West Africa’s rainforests for large-scale industrial rubber plantations. In Cameroon, rubber conglomerate Halcyon Agri, which also sells rubber to the European Union (EU), has cleared at least 127 km2 of primary rainforest. The rubber market is growing steadily and is expected to exceed $50 billion by 2027.
Can a new EU law protect Cameroon’s rainforest from deforestation?
The company’s rubber plantation threatens the Dja Faunal Reserve, which hosts endangered species such as forest elephants, chimpanzees and lowland gorillas. Indigenous Baka communities were expelled from their forest, their holy sites destroyed, and an age-old way of life eradicated without compensation.
Will a brand-new EU law banning the import of commodities from deforestation or violating human rights make a difference? This investigation shows how dirty rubber from Cameroon ends up in our tires. In covering the story, the journalists speak to Baka communities who have been forcibly moved from their land, with environmentalists, rubber traders, car tyre manufacturers in Europe, and government and EU officials. The team also examines company structures and analyses satellite images that show primary forest destruction.
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€19.150 allocated on 30/11/2022ID
ENV1/2022/119Grant
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ONLINE
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- When the ‘strangers’ came – Chinese rubber giant ‘destroys’ rainforests, indigenous lives in Cameroon, Daily Maverick, 11/07/2023.
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- Europe’s greed for Rubber destroys Cameroon’s Rainforest, threatens Indigenous Dwellers Livelihoods, Africa Climate Reports, Nigeria, 24/07/2023
- How Europe’s greed for rubber destroys Cameroon’s rainforest, threatens livelihood of indigenous forest dwellers, NewsWatch Cameroon, 30/07/2023
- How Europe’s demand for rubber destroys Cameroon’s rainforest, threatens forest dwellers’ livelihood - Lagos Observer, 05/08/2023
- Bossen voor banden - De Groene Amsterdammer, 06/09/2023
- How Europe’s Greed For Rubber Destroys Cameroon’s Rainforest, Threatens Livelihood Of Indigenous Forest Dwellers, Eco-Outlook, Cameroon, 24/07/2023
- How Europe’s greed for rubber destroys Cameroon’s rainforest, threatens livelihood of indigenous forest dwellers, NewsWatch Cameroon, 24/07/2023
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