The thirst of new energy from plants grown for fuel is a new and ravenous pressure on land resources around the world. The rapidly developing biofuels industry is being driven by misguided policies in Europe and across the developed world. The impact is being felt in countries like Kenya where local communities and precious natural environments risk being shouldered aside in the rush to cash in.
Kenya’s Tana River Delta has featured in these posts before, most recently when I featured NatureKenya’s campaigner Serah Munguti. You can read about this incredible area here and you can find out a little more about the pernicious impact of the land grab for biofuels here.
The situation has worsened as the company Bedford Biofuels has recently been granted a licence by Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority to plant jatropha in a 10,000 ha pilot project. The farmers and pastoralists that depend on the delta are fighting to stop the damage and are mobilising to take legal action.
The stakes are high – the lives of local people and a wonderful place are being gambled on a get rich quick scheme that also risks making global warming worse by adding to carbon emissions!
Madness.
You can step up and help by signing their petition – and here’s the link. Showing our support won’t win the battle, but will send the strongest signal that local campaigners are not alone.
Thank you.
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Thankyou for informing us about this. I have signed the petition.