Deal #3844

The Sud Cameroun Hévéa (SudCam) project has affected thirty local communities, including Ndibessong, Eyeguele, and Zoumeyo, by converting large areas of forest into rubber plantations. The indigenous Baka Pygmies have been particularly impacted, as they were displaced from their ancestral lands, losing access to essential forest resources for their livelihood and culture. Massive deforestation has disrupted their way of life, reducing biodiversity and affecting their traditional practices, while complaints from residents have been ignored by the company and authorities.

The community reacted with indignation and concern to the establishment of Sud Cameroun Hévéa (SudCam) and the massive destruction of their forests. Traditional leaders such as Akoumba Akouma Fréderic, chief of Ndibessong, denounced the loss of land and natural resources, while elders like Robert Zili Nkoulou lamented the disappearance of animal species and medicinal plants essential to the community. Residents like Mengue Clotilde recalled that they used to find food and medicine in the forest, but now "there is nothing left." The Baka Pygmies community, the most affected, demanded the return of their land and denounced that SudCam "broke the ancestral bond that united them with the forest." Despite protests and complaints, neither the company nor the authorities have responded to their demands, and attempts to contact SudCam have been blocked, leaving the community displaced and deprived of their means of livelihood without compensation.

The land conflict in the case of Sud Cameroun Hévéa (SudCam) arises from the concession of 60,000 hectares of forest without prior consultation with local communities, including the Baka Pygmies, who relied on these lands for their livelihood and culture. Since 2011, the company has deforested more than 10,000 hectares, displacing communities and altering biodiversity. Residents have denounced the loss of natural resources, farmland, and access to the forest, but their complaints have been ignored by both the company and the Cameroonian government, which has granted tax exemptions and judicial protection to SudCam. While the community demands the return of their land and the recognition of their rights, the company continues to operate without restrictions, worsening the environmental and social impact in the region.

Family housing for 40,000 individuals, 58 government-certified schools for 11,100 students, 2 hospitals, as well as sports and community facilities.

Family housing for 40,000 individuals, 58 government-certified schools for 11,100 students, 2 hospitals, and sports and community facilities.