Deal #1159 Version #51595

Chiefs signed a paper unknowingly which constituted proof of consultation with the locals. Locals have protested on several occasions, which has lead to arrests of the villagers from Police. Nasako Besingi, founder of Struggle to Economise Future Environment, is awaiting summons from the court to find out what he's been charged with. The other five who were arrested were charged with taking part in the organisation of an undeclared public meeting.Herakles has filed a separate case against Nasako, accusing him of defamation and suing him for damages. The villagers in the Nguti region fear that their land will be sold by Herkales and that they will be relocated.

The community has been subject to arbitrary arrest and harassment by SGSOC, following strong resistance from the local communities regarding the project.

Land acquisition conflicts Deforestation Plantation conflicts

244 Cameroonian farmers complained September 27 2016 against the planting of oil palm Sithe Global Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC) for violation of property rights.

Negative environmental impact include biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover. In 2012, the company was asked to pay damages and interest amounting to 24,506,000 CFA francs (US$48,519) for destroying 14.5 million trees of various species. Socio-economic impact include Increase in Corruption, Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures.

SGSOC had to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with villages to ensure that there is no loss of village farms or plantations and provide farmland for future generations to avoid impacts related to food insecurity. SGSOC had to demarcate such farmland for each village in coordination with a team to be composed of the villagers, SGSOC personal, Subdivision Farm Council, and Regional Delegation of the Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure (august 2011 PGES). SGSOC agreed to contribute to local schools to improve their conditions, provide medical clinics to employees and make these clinics available to the local communities,l provide modern wells and portable pipe-borne drinking water to the communities and invest in farm roads to link local regions with the main project especially the Mbo hinterlands of Nguti Sub Division.

In February 2012, the Cameroonian NGO Centre for Environment & Development (CED) published a report regarding Herakles Farms (SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon) raising concerns about displacement of small-scale subsistence farmers from arable lands, food insecurity, lack of jobs sufficient to cancel the loss of farmland, environmental damage, access to water, and inconsistency and lack of transparency in environmental and social impact assessments. Locals and farmers sued the company for trespassing and distorting their livelihood. In May 2011, some 50 local and international environmental and community groups wrote a letter to Wrobel expressing concern.