Forest resources and land management in French Guiana: Settling farmers to support biomass energy supply chain

Abstract

French Guiana is implementing an endogenous development policy based on its forest resources. In order to link agricultural and energy development, young farmers would be settled on agricultural land in order to supply power plants. Land access is thus the key to success in the biomass energy supply chain. We discuss conflicts and misalignments arising from land allocation procedures and technical models consistent with the requirements of the project. A typology of farmers supposed to provide biomass plants is proposed.