Cet événement se déroulera exclusivement en anglais et en allemand. La description n’est actuellement disponible que dans ces langues. Nous essayons toujours d’élargir notre offre en langue française et vous remercions de votre compréhension.

African Parks manages 23 nature reserves in thirteen African countries, covering an area the size of Great Britain. African governments have handed over complete control over their land to this non-governmental organisation, which has ‘A business approach to conservation’ as its motto. In his book Im Namen der Tiere, Olivier van Beemen shows how the organisation deploys armed forces with extensive powers to protect the areas – from terrorists, poachers, but also the local population. The latter are no longer allowed to enter the land they traditionally use and violent attacks occur.

Van Beemen criticises the fact that the project, which is often praised as a very good example of nature conservation and is supported by safari tourism as well as donations from celebrities and Western governments, produces an appearance of beautiful images of intact nature that does not stand up to reality.

Following his award-winning research on the brewing group Heineken in Africa, Olivier van Beemen has written another insightful book that has received both praising but also critical reviews. The journalist spent over three years researching the book, travelled to six countries and spoke to almost three hundred sources, reporting on his experiences of arrest, accusations of espionage and deportation or the threat of legal action.

How does Mr van Beemen see the situation behind the scenes at African Parks? What conflicts arise between nature conservation and the local population? And how can these be resolved? These and other questions were the focus of the reading followed by a discussion with Olivier van Beemen.

The event was held in German and English.