Deal #3074 Version #58579

The three plantations were acquired in 1963 for the purpose of oil palm development. Ibiae and Calaro were developed by the state-owned Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation before the plantations were abandoned in the 1970s. Biase was acquired by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which failed to develop the land. Much of the land has since been encroached on and used for small-scale farming, which covers approximately one-third the concession area. Although Wilmar has pledged to preserve community farmlands within the concession, considering the degree of farmland fragmentation, long-term conflicts with local livelihood systems is inevitable.