Biofuel Backlash

“Going green”:http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Documents/upload/BiofuelsFinal.pdf with a scorched earth policy

A German Biodiesel producer, Flora EcoPower, is under fire for clearing a substantial swath of conservation land near the Babile Elephant Sanctuary in Ethiopia.

Alon Hovev, the COO for Flora EcoPower in Ethiopia, attributes lack of communication between the company and conservationists as the culprit.

The 7,000 sq km (4,350 sq mile) sanctuary is one of a kind in Ethiopia, and home to about 300 elephants, 1,000 black-mane lions and 250 bird and plant species endemic to the Horn of Africa nation.

Hovev goes on to say: “No one can tell us we are not taking care of animals. Anything they will tell us to do, we will do and we will contribute money…“

A commendable gesture, but animals can’t eat money. At least the intent is good.

The road to Hell on earth would appear to be paved with good intentions.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.

A Karmic Aside

Biofuel boom raises beer prices in Germany

ADDIS ABABA – A thousand rare black-mane lions — an Ethiopian national symbol — and some 300 elephants are in danger after a swathe of forest in their sanctuary was cut down, a wildlife expert said on Thursday.

The land was cleared from a conservation area at Midiga Tola, adjacent to the Babile Elephant Sanctuary located 560 km (350 miles) east of Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Wildlife Association President Yirmed Demeke said.

Flora EcoPower Holding AG, a German biodiesel producer based in Munich, cleared the forest after it was granted 10,000 hectares of land by the government, Yirmed said.

“The company has continued to clear the forested land without any concern for the wild animals threatened by the destruction of an internationally recognised conservation area,” Yirmed said.

Flora EcoPower’s Chief Operations Officer for Ethiopia Alon Hovev said the company had met wildlife experts and government officials over the past few days to solve the problem.

“We are not touching one area where there are elephants,” said Hovev, saying their work was 30 km from the elephants.

Hovev said the problem arose from a lack of communication between the company and conservation groups, but said it was resolved at the meetings.

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