New Publication from World Rainforest Movement - "Oil Palm in Africa: past, present and future scenarios"

 New Publication message from World Rainforest Movement:

"We are pleased to announce the publication Oil Palm in Africa: past, present and future scenarios by Ricardo Carrere. The publication is available in electronic format both in English and in French. In recent years, industrial oil palm plantations are expanding fast in many African countries, mainly driven by the international demand for palm oil and agrofuels. Local communities are already suffering from the impacts industrial plantations pose on their livelihoods. The publication shows both the expansion of industrial monoculture oil palm plantations and its many negative impacts on people and livelihood, while also highlighting the importance and many benefits of the traditional palm oil processing for local people in Africa, especially for women who play a crucial role in this system and are often most affected by the new industrial plantations and processing forms. Given the difficulty of accessing relevant information at a continental and even at country-level, the aim of the book is to provide the necessary information to concerned people and organizations so they can get involved in this very important issue. The book presents an overview of the situation of oil palm plantations expansion in 23 African countries.The information contained in the publication, was first disseminated as drafts for comments - through a blog where we received a number of useful comments and positive responses.  The blog has been updated with the final chapters of each country's description. We encourage all of you to continue feeding the blog and sending any relevant information. We have also produced a map for the 23 countries described in the book containing a summary of the situation in each country: corporations involved, international bodies involved in oil palm promotion, hectares under concession, and women's role in traditional palm oil production. We will be updating the map on a regular basis based on the information we receive through the blog and /or via email. The book, the blog and the map can be accessed through our web site special section on Oil Palm in Africa:http://www.wrm.org.uy/countries/Africa/Oil_Palm_in_Africa.htmlWe hope that this work will contribute with communities and organizations working with communities already impacted by or targeted for oil palm plantations in their struggles to defend their territories and livelihoods, threatened by government-sponsored oil palm corporations. And we would also be very pleased to receive your feedback on this work, as well as suggestions, especially from organizations in the 23 countries mentioned in the publication, on how we could follow-up on this publication in terms of supporting local struggles against industrial oil palm plantations in Africa. With kind regards,The WRM Team"