On January 27-28, 2015, the people of Jogbahn Clan in District #4, Grand Bassa County, carried out a GPS land mapping exercise with Equatorial Palm Oil. This was the culmination of a lengthy battle between Jogbahn Clan and EPO over ownership of their land.
(See: 'No Means No': Jogbahn Clan, EPO, and the Fight over Land in District 4)
Joegba community members posing for a while with their Senior Elder in Blayah town.
Joegba community members posing for a while with their Senior Elder in Blayah town.
Joegba community members posing
The mapping process formally demarcated the precise location of the border between Jogbahn Clan's land and EPO's plantation. EPO has agreed that no cultivation of palm oil will occur on land owned by Jogbahn, after a long battle waged in the press and through protests, culminating with President Sirleaf asking the company to leave the land alone. SDI staff arrived in Grand Bassa late on Tuesday, January 26, and worked with the community for two days to help ensure the mapping process went smoothly and that EPO respected the community's boundaries.
Participants in the EPO Joegba community mapping exercise identifying the boundary between Paye town and Beorgba.
Participants in the EPO Joegba community mapping exercise identifying the boundary between Paye town and Beorgba.
Standing on the boundary between Paye town and Beorgbar
Boundary mapping is a crucial aspect of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent - the process by which communities are given the opportunity to understand and make judgments about disruptive natural resource projects. Jogbahn clan had already given its answer to EPO: a steadfast 'no,' opening space for the boundaries to be mapped.
Joint mapping exercise involving community members of wedesema and Noohn Towns.
Joint mapping exercise involving community members of wedesema and Noohn Towns.
Identifying boundary between Noohn Town and Wedesema
Aside from a minor dispute over the status of negotiations between EPO and two towns, Paye's and Beyohgba, the mapping was smooth and peaceful. Presumably, Jogbahn Clan and EPO are now in a formal state of agreement that their land will remain in their hands and under their control.
The mapping is the culmination of a years-long dispute between EPO and residents of District 4 in Grand Bassa County. In a microcosm of the troubles that the oil palm industry has faced in Liberia, EPO initially refused to acknowledge Jogbahn's claim to ownership of its land, claiming it was the rightful landowner as per its concession agreement with the Liberian government. SDI and Jogbahn clan publicized the dispute and made a formal complaint to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, leading to the President's action and the GPS mapping.
EPO's concession area is below - marked in green - with Jogbahn Clan's land to the east.
Image of the final map produced from the joint mapping exercise between SDI, EPO and Jogbahn Clan communities.
Exercise done by all three groups, map completed by SDI team and sent out to EPO for comments. After EPO comments, map will be presented to the communities.
Image of the final map produced from the joint mapping exercise between SDI, EPO and Jogbahn Clan communities.
Exercise done by all three groups, map completed by SDI team and sent out to EPO for comments. After EPO comments, map will be presented to the communities.
