rights of communities confronted with exclusive mining zones: the case of communities neighboring...
TRANSCRIPT
By Patrice André Pa’ ahCAFT/ GACF
RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES CONFRONTED WITH EXCLUSIVE
MINING ZONES: THE CASE OF COMMUNITIES NEIGHBORING
THE MBALAM IRON-ORE BED IN THE NGOLYA REGION
LOCATION OF THE TRANSBORDER MINING ZONE (CAMEROON, CONGO AND GABON)
From 1994 to 2004 the whole Congo Basin zone was focused on conservation of wildlife and forest resources;
Creation and identification of critical ecology zones “zones à écologie critique » by USAID/CARPE (Ex: TRIDOM)
Since 2005, the local debate is changing and getting polarized on substantial State mining projects
MINING ZONES IN THE “TRIDOM” CAMEROUN
Cobalt and Nickel project exploitation of Nkamouna (Lomié)
Iron exploitation project of Mbalam (Ngoyla)
REAL THREATS ON THE FORESTS AND FAUNA
There will be the disappearance of the forests and fauna of the strip/ open-cast mining exploitation
Serious threats on traditional and customary activities of local communities living in the mining areas
SERIOUS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON UNDERGROUND AND SURFACE WATER
The only water tower of the area will be affected by the iron exploitation
There will be disappearance of the river where the water tower rise in
Emergence of new transboundary conflicts from shared water among countries
THREATS TO TRANSBORDER COMMUNITIES’ RIGHTS
Insecure forest and land rights of communities adjacent to the Mbalam mining zone
Inability to establish community forests and, as a result, the inability to plan for future use of communities’ forest resources
Lack of boundary lines and unclear borders between Cameroon, Congo and Gabon
Potential negative impacts for communities in the three countries as regards surface water quality during the upcoming open-air iron-ore mining project
Misunderstanding and lack of awareness of transborder legislation concerning mining, forestry and water across borders (related to negative impacts caused by mining)