CEESP, alert

ALERTS under consideration by CEESP members

ALERT no.2 (January 2007) on Mining in the Philippines

ALERT no.1 (Since October 2005)
Protected area-related eviction in Ethiopia

Managing protected areas in territories that include indigenous peoples and local communities should take into consideration the achievements of the Durban World Parks Congress and the subsequent CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. This does not seem to be the case in Ethiopia, where the African Parks (AP) is involved in managing Nech Sar Park and Omo Park under an agreement with the Government of Ethiopia. This alert is being discussed by TILCEPA, TGER and TSL members. Please find below information from both AP and its critics.

UPDATE (January 2008): Since our last update of this Alert page several documents have been circulating which have raised conflicting opinions and comments. The debate is taking a legalistic approach, the case being monitored by international human rights organisations.
Despite the international criticism, over the last two years African Parks has taken important steps to negotiate with the local and indigenous communities in both national parks. Their announcement to withdraw from the agreement with the government therefore came as a surprise. It was even more surprising that soon after this public announcement, the Guji community living within Nach Sar national park was notified that a plan to resettle them somewhere else was already under implementation. This was decided without the knowledge of the indigenous community, let alone prior and informed consent.
Like usual we do not take any position in the controversy, but for the sake of information we recall that the Guji are mentioned as being indigenous to the area in the accounts of the early explorers, as well as in recent systematic studies. According to international standards they have therefore a full right not to be resettled if they so decide.

Centre for International Environmental LAw (CIEL): “Additional Comments on International Law Applicable to the Situation of Tribes in Southern Ethiopia”, September, 2007

African Parks: “Termination of Management Activities in Nech Sar and Omo National Parks”

African Parks Foundation and the Omo National Park- David Turton

Rangers by Birth, June 15th, 2006

"Suri, Dizi, Mursi, Me'en, Nyangatom, threatened by Ethiopian National Park", March 07, 2006

“Ethiopia: Local People Burned Out of Homes to Make Way for National Park”, April 19, 2005

"The human cost of tourism dollars", April 19, 2005

The takeover of Ethiopia's Omo National Park by African Parks Foundation (APF) of the Netherlands, Updated on April 17, 2006

Map of local groups' territories within the Omo National Park

Notes on Mursi subsistence and methods of public decision making- David Turton

"A thorn in the foot": Report on a meeting between the African Parks Foundation (APF) and local elders in Mui, Omo Park HQ, Southern Ethiopia, on March 11, 2006, Revised version, June 3, 2006

Response to "A thorn in the foot" Will Hurd, May 23rd, 2006