"Press release: A petition delivered to the Mozambique government and tree plantations companies urging them to give the land back to communities", 11 Oct 2016

On September 30, a petition was delivered with 12,323 signatures from several national and international organisations,...individuals, in solidarity with and support to the communities in Mozambique that struggle against the expansion of tree monoculture plantations. The petition has been submitted to...Green Resources in Norway and Portucel/The Navigator Company in Portugal,...to governmental institutions in Mozambique including the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security...[O]n September 21st in Maputo... two...reports...[were launched on]...conflicts and violations related to the territories of local community and involving companies active in promoting tree monocultures,...Lurio Green Resources from Norway and Portucel Moçambique/The Navigator Company from Portugal. The first...is called "the Advance of Tree Plantations over the Territories of Peasants in the Corridor of Nacala: the case of Green Resources Mozambique"...The second... is..."Portucel – the Process of the access to Land and the rights of communities"..."The white people came to our leader [régulo]. First they let the people know about the arrival of the white people. The population joined together and they came to demand the land of the farmers. But we were scared because we thought they would take our land away, but the white people said: 'we came to bring peace to you. We will solve your situation. We will identify an area where you can continue cultivating, all of you. If something is lacking, you make a demand, and we will attend you.' We got satisfied, but after all they lied". Member of the Nicara community, Mecubir, during the Launch of the aforementioned reports...