Gabon

Report by CIAJE, Gabon

CIAJE has carried out a study on the impact of European-owned forestry companies’ activities on the local population and the environment. In this study we have chosen three areas of investigation, so as to produce an overview of the problems identified. We went to the logging area of Mboumi of the SHM (Société de la Haute Mondah) in Ndjolé, in the province of Moyen Ogooué; to the wood depots of the Leroy Gabon and NSG companies at the Lopé railway station, in the province of Ogooué-Ivindo; and to the logging area of Bambidi, of CEB (Compagnie Equatoriale des Bois) in Lastourville, Ogooué-Lolo province. At these sites we carried out our investigations, talked to the workers and the local people who were directly or indirectly affected by the forestry activities. What did we find? The conclusions which follow are a summary of the results which we obtained from our investigations.

A. General Observations

According to the law, the land and the area of the forestry resources are the property of the State - as in decree no 192/PR/MEFCR of 4 March 1984 - the law only allows local people the right to exercise their customary activities. This expropriation of the land is not accepted by the local people, and they frequently make their views known before the forestry companies located on their territory.

It is this interpretation of the law which is often a source of conflict between the local people and the forestry companies. The latter are not obliged to meet the peoples’ claims because they pay their taxes to the national treasury. It therefore falls to the State to distribute the gains from the exploitation of the forestry resources so that the people may benefit both directly and indirectly. This is currently hanging in the air due to a new law on decentralisation.

Almost all of the logging sites are far away from the villages. Where they are situated depends on the permits granted, but they have also been located so as to avoid conflict with the local people over their property rights - this is the case for the sites which we have visited. SHM’s Mboumi site is situated 37 km from Ndjolé; the Gongué site of Leroy Gabon and the Mitendi site of NSG in the Lopé reserve are at a distance of 100 km and 86 km respectively. Despite this, conflicts exist between the local people and the forestry companies, because the former are affected by the companies’ activities.

B. Social Aspects

Without any formal obligation to help the local populations, the European forestry companies undertake actions on a voluntary basis. This voluntary activity is aimed at establishing their popularity among the local people and at avoiding any conflicts over property rights. Despite the law, however, the local people believe that the forestry resources belong to them.

Given the poor living conditions of the workers in the forestry companies, it was necessary to consider them as a group within the local population. Therefore in discussing the issue of the impact of the European forestry companies on the local population, we have included the local villagers and the companies’ workers.

SHM workers' quarters

B1 - The villagers

Generally speaking, the forestry companies make some efforts with the local people living close to their sites. Without any formal obligations, they do not have to make any promises to the local people. However, following a claim made by the people of Mikongo village in Lopé, the Leroy Gabon and NSG companies decided to meet their demands. NSG also promised to build a school, which it did. Leroy Gabon, however, promised to provide an electricity generator - this has still not been installed.

The SHM, away from Ndjolé, seems prepared to leave things as they are because the road is in an appalling state. This decay is due to the frequent traffic from the logging vehicles whose loads exceed those permitted in Gabon (50 tonnes).

Notable efforts, however, have been made by CEB. It has carried out a sociological study so that it can improve its interaction with the local people near the site. The local peoples’ claims could disrupt the companies’ activities. According to CEB’s head of external relations, local organisations have been allowed to develop among the people. Mr Kouya stressed that these organisations would allow the local people to benefit from the exploitation of ‘their forest’. This policy of humane development is summarised in the following six points:

§ the setting up of a fish breeding site at Bambidi for the local people;

§ the setting up of a villagers’ logging scheme. What does this consist of? CEB has removed an area from its permit for the local people. This unit is exploited by CEB for the benefit of the local people. This ‘gift’ adds Mr Kouya, helps the local people raise their standard of living;

§ the practice of sawing the wood into long planks. CEB pays someone to make these planks and these will be shared among the local people;

§ allowing local children to visit the CEB’s dispensary — this is open to all of the local villagers;

§ giving jobs to young local people. Nearly all of the CEB’s workers in Bambidi are from Bambidi village or other villages nearby;

§ and, building a road to link a village from the Sebe canton to Lastourville.

In addition, the Spanish forestry company BESCOS should be praised for the many activities it has taken on behalf of local people. It has made many infrastructual improvements for people in the Lambaréné area of Moyen Ogooué province.

B2 - The forestry workers

Within this category of local people, we have focused on the following in our study: access to drinking water, surroundings and living conditions, health, their hobbies, access to education for their children and access to food supplies.

Drinking water

Leroy Gabon and CEB have provided pumps for drinking water for their workers, however, workers for other forestry companies have to use streams and rivers for their drinking water. At SHM, the (office) staff have access to drinking water from a water tower, while the workers must travel over 1 km to a river which they have called ‘Andza’. These workers are exposed to diseases because the water is polluted.

C. Impact On The Environment