Cameroon permits trimmed palm oil project by US firm Herakles

Cameroon President Paul Biya has given final approval to New York venture capital firm Herakles Capital to start work on a 20,000 hectares palm oil plantation, despite opposition from some locals and conservation groups. Herakles' palm oil project in the South West forest region of Cameroon has been mired in controversy after environmental campaigners including Greenpeace and WWF said it violated Cameroon's laws and could endanger wildlife and deprive locals of their livelihoods. The government asked Herakles in June reduce the size of the plantation to 20,000 hectares.