palm oil and deforestation - conference in the european parliament

A preview screening of “Frontera Invisible”, a film about communities affected by palm oil, was held at the European Parliament on 7 February 2017.

After the film screening, a packed audience stayed to listen to first hand testimonies and expert commentary about the EU’s complicity in deforestation and human rights infringements due to palm oil expansion in Colombia, Liberia and Cameroon.

© Digby Washer

The EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme has made strides in tackling illegal logging in Liberia; we need similar EU action for palm oil, says Jonathan Yiah of SDI Liberia.

© Digby Washer

Chemicals from Luxemburgish/French SOCFIN palm oil plantations in Cameroon have made local water undrinkable and killed the fish people need to eat, says Laurence Wete of FODER, Cameroon.

© Digby Washer

Eva Izquierdo of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) stressed that the European Commission needs to enhance requirements for supply chain due diligence.

© Digby Washer

The EU Rapporteur on Palm oil and deforestation of rainforests, MEP Kateřina Konečná, co-hosted the screening and discussions.

© Digby Washer

Europeans' consumption of palm oil is denying peoples' rights in other countries by removing basic rights and cultural traditions, summarised MEP Seb Dance.

In June 2016 the European Council adopted conclusions under the Dutch Presidency of the European Union expressing concern about deforestation around the globe due to agriculture.

Fern supports the Council’s call for the Commission to tackle the drivers of deforestation and examine all policy options to do so.

To read more visit http://www.fern.org/consumption