4 June 2009 | Interviews | Water | Agrofuels in Colombia | Forests and biodiversity
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In Colombia, tree and palm oil plantations represent two ends of the same cord: agribusiness and monocultures. Thousands of hectares are literally invaded by these cellulose, disposable packages, ethanol and biodiesel agribusiness, resulting in a harmful human void and scarcity of natural resources.
In terms of forestry, the trees planted (pine, eucalyptus) occupy 250 thousand hectares and are located in strategic regions due to their water resources, said Diego Alejandro Cardona, member of Friends of the Earth Colombia - CENSAT Agua Viva, in an interview with Real World Radio.
This is causing the appropriation of territories in the sources of several community aqueducts of the country, affecting water sovereignty and restricting access to water for native, rural and also urban communities from several regions of the country.
Other monocultures to produce biofuels, such as palm oil, have caused serious conflicts in Afro-Colombian populations, violating human and environmental rights and destroying ecosystems.
Cardona also pointed out that since 1970s, when tree monoculture plantations began to appear, indigenous, black and peasant people started to carry out a strong resistance. "People started to sell or rent their lands and when that happens there is only trees, and not children going to school, public transport, or social dynamics like markets", said the Colombian activist.
"We are losing the rural societies of the country", he stated.
One of the main forestry multinational companies in Colombia is Dutch-Irish Smurfit Kappa Group, through its subsidiary "Carton de Colombia". In terms of agrofuels -sugarcane and palm oil- the production is concentrated in one oligopoly of local companies, in some cases owned by the same group of Colombian capitals.
Friends of the Earth Colombia has organized a Front for Life and Against Green Deserts with the participation of communities and organizations aiming at stopping the advance of plantations.
Another line of work is related to the campaign "Filling tanks, emptying territories", along PCN.
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