More than 200km² of the Tana River delta is due to become a sugar cane plantation, with much of the crop turned into an ethanol-based fuel. Campaigners say the wetlands sustain thousands of farmers and fishermen whose protests have been ignored.

In other parts of Africa and abroad, concerns have been raised regarding the impact on food prices of crops being grown for biofuel; some observers maintain that one of the factors in higher retail prices worldwide for food is the amount of land now being set aside for the production of crops for processing into biofuel.

The area is also home to lions, hippos, reptiles, primates, rare sharks and 345 bird species. Large areas of land in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania are attracting the attention of agricultural firms looking to meet the demand for alternative energy sources from the US and the European Union.

Article courtesy of Panos London

[25 Jun 2008 14:05]

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