Vietnam: Gia Binh Airport land clearance, construction and airport city development

Rose Bridger Vietnam , , , , , , , , , ,

Land clearance for and construction of Gia Binh Airport, accelerated for APEC 2027, is displacing thousands of households. Delays in providing replacement housing or compensation have caused difficulties for many of the residents forced to leave their homes. An airport city development surrounding the new airport, the ‘southern Duong River urban area’, is planned.

Gia Binh International Airport 2030 masterplan
Gia Bình International Airport 2030 masterplan graphic

Land clearance and construction of Gia Binh AIrport, about 40 kilometres east of Hanoi in a rural area of Vietnam’s Bac Ninh province, are underway. A mega-airport is planned with four runways arranged in two pairs, handling 30 million passengers and 1.6 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2030 increasing to 50 million passengers per year and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2050. The total investment is estimated at VND196,378 trillion (USD7.5 billion). A vast swath of productive farmland is being sacrificed for the new airport. Land allocated for the Gia Binh Airport site, in the communes of Gia Ginh, Luong Tai, Nhan Thang and Lam Thao, encompasses about 1,184.78 hectares of agricultural land, including about 920 hectares of rice fields yielding two crops per year. The site also comprises 415 hectares of non-agricultural land, 159.4 hectares of residential land and 124.8 hectares of land utilised for defence and security purposes. Preparation of the airport project site has triggered one of the largest land clearances in Vietnam’s recent history, affecting approximately 7,100 households and individuals and 118 organisations; about 5,800 households and individuals are being relocated. By 25th December 2025 almost 600 hectares of land had been cleared and land registration for 6,309 households within the project area was complete. The Bac Ninh province had advanced over VND2,700 billion (USD102.5 million) to pay compensation to about 5,000 households. Plans for a second phase of compensation were progressing with a further VND1,102 billion (USD41.8 million) in payments for approximately 360 hectares of agricultural land. An inventory of religious structures and tombs had identified 17,800 graves within the project area to be relocated, but the process was complexified by the many unique buildings including churches, temples and communal houses with a higher value than the price framework and therefore requiring specific estimates.

Acceleration for APEC 2027

As well as a major passenger and cargo hub Gia Binh Airport is being built as strategic infrastructure to host major diplomatic events, beginning with the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) 2027 Leaders’ Week gathering of high level officials, to be hosted by Vietnam and scheduled for November 2027. Construction of key components of Gia Binh Airport has been accelerated for APEC 2027, even though the primary event venues are on Phu Quoc island, 15 kilometres off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. On 7th March 2026, nearing the end of his term, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the Gia Binh Airport project and directed stakeholders to develop the site as an “airport economic ecosystem”. He stated that the airport will be a dual-use (civilian and military) facility, stressing the importance of completion in time for APEC 2027 Leaders’ Week, and was briefed on the progress of construction of the VIP terminal. By 19th March pile driving and removal of topsoil for the VIP area was complete and foundation works were underway. Authorities had handed over 1,259.45 hectares, 66.82% of the 1,883.93 hectare required land area, and relocation of 4,761 graves was expedited. But land clearance of about 1,260 households, scheduled to be complete by 30th April, was highlighted as the ‘most significant bottleneck’ impeding the expedited construction programme.

Land clearance for a road network

Development of road networks serving the airport, involving land clearance for wide corridors to accommodate multiple lanes, has been accelerated for APEC 2027. The total investment for a 41.3 kilometre road connecting Gia Binh Airport with Hanoi, linking directly with several major arterial roads, including intercity expressways, is estimated at VND83 trillion (USD3.165 billion). People in the Thuan Thanh, Tram Lo, Tri Qua and Mao Dien wards are being resettled to make way for the Gia Binh Airport – Hanoi road and a resettlement site is being urgently constructed in Lam Thao commune southwest of the airport site. By 24th July 2026 304 out of 412 hectares of land in Bac Ninh had been cleared for the 10-lane, 120 metres wide road which is expected to open in October 2026, in time to serve APEC 2027. Rapid advancement of the Bac Ninh segments of the Ring Road No. 4 project linking Hanoi with satellite urban centres and northern industrial zones, was reported in My 2026. Clearance of agricultural and residential land within the 90-metre corridor for one component of Ring Road No. 4 was complete along with most of the infrastructure for nine resettlement areas, with excavation and embankment filling works for another component ongoing. Clearance of over 82 hectares for the direct access road was complete and resettlement schemes had been expedited.

Villages and residential areas impacted by land clearance for Gia Binh Airport
Some of the villages and residential areas impacted by land clearance for Gia Binh Airport, the area where site clearance for airport construction is visible is highlighted. Satellite imagery 17/07/2025 / 02/07/2023

Displacement difficulties

In early June Bac Ninh Catholic communities voiced concerns over displacement for Gia Binh Airport. Bishop Joseph Đỗ Quang Khang said he had seen “many families forced to live in temporary housing, facing compounded difficulties over shelter, work, schooling, faith life, and daily activities”. One affected resident wrote on the Diocese’s website “The image of excavators tearing down homes within the planning area of a major national project is striking. Walls collapse. Tiled roofs are stripped away. Belongings are loaded onto trucks. Trucks operate nonstop”. Another resident commented on the previous view of graves and crosses around the parish church abruptly replaced by ‘deep trenches gouged into the earth, overturned patches of land, and fresh marks left by excavators and bulldozers’. A woman representing the Sisters of Our Lady of Unity said theri charity home was affected by low valuation of agricultural land and was uncertain where the sisters and 40 disabled children could relocate to. During land clearing operations on 13th June 2026 17 graves in Ngọc Xuyên village were illegally levelled and affected families were pressured to accept the compensation offer and sign a pledge not to file complaints.

Residents forced to dismantle homes

A 24th June 2026 communication from the Bac Ninh province required residents to dismantle their homes and relocate with just a few hours notice, by 4pm that same day. The notice stated that land in four villages – Ngô Thôn, Mỹ Thôn, Lương Pháp, and Thủ Pháp – had been officially handed over to the investor on 20th June but some residents were still dismantling their homes. The following day a preliminary review on land clearance for the airport reported that 1,400 households in the four villages had been relocated in just 38 days. Since late May hundreds of households had been forced to dismantle their homes and move into temporary housing but authorities had not yet constructed resettlement areas nor provided reasonable compensation for affected people. A Bac Ninh province announcement on Facebook met with more than 2,000 reactions, about half of which were ‘haha’ and ‘angry’, and over 600 comments expressing frustration. Residents also posted critical comments in response to Bac Ninh news outlet videos praising the relocation process and claiming it was a ‘high consensus’ exercise. Several residents expressed their difficulties related to the airport at a dialogue meeting held on 3rd July. Their families had received eviction notices instructing them to relocate before 30th August but temporary housing had not yet been organised for them.

Relocation and resettlement delays

One resident spoke of her loss of trust as she had been assured she would not be forced to move again before the resettlement area with permanent replacement housing was ready. Acting on this information she had not rented a house and the only places still available were very small and expensive. She was worried that being forced to vacate by 30th August would push her out onto the street. Another resident with three children had found temporary relocation “extremely difficult and exhausting” and said it would be impossible for more than 500 households in Tử Nê and nearby villages to relocate under the current process. A Phú Dưới village resident said there was not yet official notice of the date by which their family would be required to leave. The Gia Bình Commune Party Committee issued a document stating that relocation of assets must be completed by 20th July in the Đồng Lâm and Quỳnh Bội residential areas and by 20th August in the Đỗ Xá residential area.

‘High consensus’ claims

Interviews conducted by Luật Khoa Magazine contradicted government claims of ‘high consensus’ with the relocation process. A man from Quỳnh Bội village said, “People now have no voice. We have to follow along. How can we resist? If anyone refuses to move, they just impose it.” In the villages of Tử Nê, Bái Giang, and Hương La the relocation deadline was fast approaching but residents reported a lack of preparation. A woman from Tử Nê village said, “Officials say we have to move by Aug. 30, but there is no resettlement yet. We have not received anything.” On 3rd August 2026, for the second time, Gia Binh Commune authorities threatened to disconnect residents’ water, electricity and telecommunications if they did not comply with instructions to leave their homes and had over the site to the investor. A resident of Trại Quỳnh Bội, regretful at the loss of a house built by his family only three years previously, said “The government says electricity will be cut on Aug. 15 if we don’t move. Without moving, what would we live on?” He said he had not received compensation or been notified of land for resettlement and might need to ask friends or neighbours if they could provide land or shelter for temporary accommodation.

‘Fake news’ crackdown

Authorities reacted to increased scrutiny and criticism of the Gia Binh Airport project with a repressive crackdown, penalising people for spreading so-called ‘fake news’. According to research by Luật Khoa Magazine since works on the airport began in September 2025 dozens of people accused of disseminating ‘fake news’ have been warned, sanctioned or ‘educated’. Severe measures included police visiting people in their own homes to monitor their opinions and pressuring people to write pledges stating compliance with regulations. One of the key responsibilities of a committee tasked with ‘ensuring security’ and maintaining the airport project schedule is to prevent articles and comments deemed to be ‘negative’ or ‘affecting public opinion and communication efforts’ regarding land clearance for the airport.

Gia Binh Airport area, satellite imageryDigital rendering of Gia Binh Airport and surrounding area
Left image:17/07/2025 satellite imagery of the Gia Binh Airport area highlighting where construction works are visible. Right image: digital rendering of plan for Gia Binh Airport and the surrounding ‘southern Duong River urban area’., source: WE LOVE ASEAN_ASEAN urbanist, 04/09/2025

A 12,800 hectare airport city

Vast urban areas surrounding Gia Binh Airport runways and other aviation facilities have been approved. Planning at a scale of 1/2,000 for the ‘southern Duong River urban area’, a zone covering more than 12,800 hectares described as an ‘international-class airport city’ was approved by the Bac Ninh province in September 2025. On his 7th March 2026 airport site visit the then Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed stakeholders to develop the site as an “airport economic ecosystem” and to plan surrounding areas as an aviation economy. The urban area is envisaged to include a free-trade zone, duty free zone, multimodal logistics zone, inland port, conference and exhibition centre, offices, hotels and housing. With a high-density layout a population of between 750,000 and 800,000 people – permanent residents, workers and tourists – is anticipated. Plans for segments of the airport-related urban area, in the Gia Binh, Nhan Thang and Dong Cuu communes, are advancing. The ‘Gia Binh Airport urban area 1’ project, a VND39.52 trillion (USD1.51 billion) urban development covering about 200.8 hectares of land and expected to accommodate about 35,637 residents has been approved along with detailed 1/500 scale planning for ‘Gia Binh Airport Urban Area 2‘, encompassing about 560.5 hectares with an expected population of 70,000-80,000 people. Plans for a 5,000 hectare free trade zone linked to Gia Binh Airport, intending to create a ‘new growth engine for the region’, a ‘gateway connecting Vietnam to global markets’ and a ‘regional trade hub’, were adopted in June 2026.

India: Over 100,000 people in 16 villages fear eviction for Guwahati Aero City and Satellite Township

Rose Bridger land rights , , , , , , , , , , ,

Moves to acquire land, including fertile farmland, in six villages to the south of Guwahati Airport for a proposed Aero City and Satellite Township have raised fears of eviction in a larger area encompassing about 16 villages.

Villages south of Guwahati Airport concerned about possible land acquisition and eviction for Guwahati Aero City and Satellite Township
Map showing fifteen of the villages south of Guwahati Airport where it has been reported that residents have concerns about possible land acquisition and eviction for the proposed Guwahati Aero City and Satellite Township projects. Satellite imagery: 03/06/2026

On 26th June 2026 The Assam Tribune reported that residents of 16 villages in the Azara and Palasbari sub-districts, to the south of Guwahati Airport, feared eviction due to land acquisition for a proposed Aero City and a Satellite Township. No official eviction orders had been issued but residents of 16 villages – Andherijuli, Batibari, Deur Ali, Jobe, Jangalipara, Kachari Allibari, Kamargaon, Lochana, Matifuturi, Maliyata, Pachaniyapara, Patgaon, Rajapanichanda, Rangapara, Sajjanpara and Sathikarpa – were worried that land acquisition might be impending as revenue department activities had increased. There were reports that notifications for valuation and acquisition of agricultural land had been issued in six of these villages – Deur Ali, Jangalipara, Jobe, Kamargaon, Matifuturi and Pachaniyapara – where officials were collecting land-related documents. Farming is the only source of livelihood for many affected people and they were uncertain about provision of rehabilitation if their land was acquired. Tribal organisations voiced concerns that placing tribal areas under Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) control might erode indigenous communities’ land rights, administrative autonomy, constitutional safeguards and the powers of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. A number of tribal organisations including Rani Regional Tribal Sangha, Rani Regional All Bodo Students’ Union and Rani Regional Rabha Students’ Union submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calling on the government to protect the rights and interests of indigenous communities in the proposed project area. A total of approximately 6,662 bighas of land had been earmarked for the two projects, about 2,662 bighas for the Aero City and the reminder for a Satellite Township.

More than 100,000 people fear displacement

Northeast Now reported that more than 1 lakh (100,000) people feared displacement for the proposed Aero City and Satellite Township. Land acquisition raised concerns in six villages inhabited mainly by Bodos, Rabhas, and Koch Rajbongshis people. Official GMDA Chief Executive Officer communication with the Special Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department explained that the proposed acquisition encompassed 712 bighas in Kamargaon, 676 bighas in Deorali, 553 bighas in Pachaniara, 280 bighas in Jonglipara, 238 bighas in Matikotuni and 203 bighas in Jobe. Residents established Ucched Virodhi Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samity (UVBASS) to oppose the proposed land acquisition and memorandums were submitted to The Chief Minister, local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and other senior officials. UVBASS president Dharmeswar Boro said, “If they go ahead with this proposal, more than one lakh people across 16 villages will be displaced” and that by planning the projects the government was “rolling out the red carpet for corporates”.

Opposition to large-scale acquisition of agricultural land

Two farmers’ organisations, Sangrami Krishak Shramik Sangha and Anti-Eviction Land Rights Struggle, held a press conference on 26th June demanding withdrawal of land acquisition processes that they claimed threatened displacement of thousands of families and destruction of fertile farmland. They said the government sought to acquire large areas of agricultural land for an Aero City, Satellite Township, Guwahati Airport expansion and other urban development projects, without providing adequate compensation or rehabilitation. The groups said about 500 families had already been evicted without fair compensation or rehabilitation and that if land acquisition plans move forward about 150,000 families might eventually be affected. They stated that nearly 2,662 bighas of agricultural land in several villages including Jobe, Jangalipara, Kamargaon, Matiya and Pachim Garal had been earmarked for acquisition. Sangrami Krishak Shramik Sangha spokesperson Dinesh Das said the government prioritised corporate interest over farmers, saying, “The government has stopped issuing treasury tax receipts and has deprived people of land rights. Instead of securing the future of farmers, it is preparing to hand over fertile agricultural land to companies for projects like Aerocity and Satellite Township. Farmers are being neglected while corporations are being favoured.” The organisations had made many appeals to the Chief Minister, Governor, Kamrup district administrations and MLA but the land acquisition process continued. The groups also raised concerns about potential impacts of the projects on wetlands and continuing conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes adversely impacting on food production.

Protest and warning of ‘mass agitation’

On 2nd July 2026, hundreds of residents protested outside the Palasbari revenue circle office, opposing the Aero City and Satellite Township project and possible eviction. Together with families concerned they might be evicted from areas surrounding Guwahati Airport they marched along the National-Highway 17 in Mirza. Many protesters were from the Rani area mainly inhabited by Bodos and Rabhas people, where land surveys identifying non-tribal residents were underway. UVBASS sent a memorandum outlining their concerns over reports of GMDA preparing development of new townships in 17 villages to the Chief Minister. The memoranrum stated, “The primary livelihood of lakhs of people in this vast region is agricultural and animal husbandry. The construction of a ‘township’ will bring a severe crisis to the life and livelihood of this huge number of poor people.” Sangrami Krishak Shramik Sangha spokesperson Dinesh Das alleged that evictions were planned in Khena Alibari village where many residents do not have the official documentation required to live in legally protected tribal areas. He demanded protection and provision of land ownership certificates for the approximately 300 Hindu and Muslim families living in the village. The memorandum also raised concerns about land surveys underway in Parli and Majirgaon, north of Guwahati Airport and close to the newly inaugurated second terminal.

At a Nikhi Rabha Jatha Parishad (NRJP) press conference in Guwahati president Babul Chandra Rabha and general secretary Gobinda Rabha said the Assam government was pursuing major land acquisition without consulting the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, Gram Sabhas or local residents. The organisation said the Aerocity and Township projects entailed acquisition of agricultural and forest areas along with ancestral settlements, violating constitutional, legal and land rights of indigenous communities, placing the livelihoods and culture of thousands of families relying on agricultural, fishing, husbandry and forest resources at risk. NRJP demanded immediate cancellation of the Aerocity and Satellite Township projects, publication of the environmental and social impact assessment reports for the Ukiam River Dam project which would significantly impact agriculture and fisheries and withdrawal of another proposed Satellite Township, Barduar Bagan, south of the area earmarked for the Aerocity. NRJP warned that, should the government fail to hold discussions with local communities and the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, it would initiate mass agitation against the projects, in collaboration with other organisations such as Sangrami Krishak-Shramik Sangha and the Anti-Eviction Land Rights Struggle Committee.

Regulation and financing for the Aero City

Development of regulation and financing to support Guwahati Aerocity and other urban development proceeded quickly.  Formation of the Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority (GSCDA) a government-owned Special Purpose Vehicle tasked with planning, financing and developing various types of satellite townships within the jurisdiction of the GMDA was approved by the Assam Cabinet on 13th June 2026. Times of India reported that the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026 was tabled on 9th July in the face of opposition from many groups in the outskirts of Guwahati. The Bill seeks to grant the authority ‘powers to develop integrated townships, knowledge cities, aviation cities, logistics hubs, tourism zones, economic corridors, commercial centres and other planned urban projects within notified Satellite City Development Areas or areas under its jurisdiction’. Presenting the Budget on 10th July 2026 Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah unveiled plans for what is presumably another name for the Aero City project, an ‘Aerotropolis’ with industrial and commercial districts around Guwahati Airport, to be implemented by the GSCDA. The Budget allocated ₹2,100 crore (USD220 million) for land acquisition for the projects.

Adani prioritises airport city development

The operator of Guwahati Airport, Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) – India’s largest private airport operator and a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL), one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates – has adjusted its strategy and corporate structures to prioritise airport city development. In December 2025 Adani announced a shift in focus to prioritisation of urban development at its airports, integrating aviation with real estate and diversification of revenue streams. A key element of this strategy is development of airports, in cities including Guwahati, into urban destinations with retail, hospitality, entertainment venues and office space plus a new emphasis on development of in-house hotels. A key driver of Adani’s focus on city-side development is the higher yields, often exceeding 20%, from non-aeronautical revenue streams – such as retail food and beverages – than the typical yield of about 12% from aeronautical sources including landing and passenger service fees. On 6th April 2026, AEL established three wholly owned subsidiaries for real estate activities on land parcels surrounding its hub airports: Adani Navi Mumbai Airport City Limited (ANMACL), Adani Guwahati Airport City Limited (AGACL), and Adani Ahmedabad Airport City Limited (AAACL). These subsidiaries will focus on development and leasing of buildings and management of hotels, restaurants and business centres. On 25th June 2026 AAHL subsidiary Adani Airport City Limted (AACL) announced plans for the first phase of an ‘ambitious programme to develop integrated airport cities across its airport network’. A Rs 20,000 crore (USD2.07 billion) investment aims to transform six airports – Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati – into ‘mixed-use urban destinations’ with hotels, offices, shopping and dining outlets, entertainment venues and convention centres.

Aerotropolis land acquisition notice in 2025

Opposition to a proposed Aerotropolis near Guwahati Airport dates back to 25th July 2025 when a land acquisition notice encompassing 400 bighas of land in Azara, Garal and Mirzapur, north and northeast of the airport, met with anxiety, anger and opposition from many affected residents. More than a thousand families feared loss of their homes and livelihoods. In Garal village critics of the project claimed the land acquisition process lacked transparency, consultation or a clear plan to rehabilitate affected people and that the main beneficiary would be a private company. Affected families began to protest the land acquisition process, demanding transparency, thorough impact assessment and rehabilitation guarantees. Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia described the move to acquire land for the Aerocity as anti-indigenous and serving corporate interests, saying that more than 1,116 families had received eviction notices, some of whom had held land titles for nearly 200 years. Villagers attending a public meeting in Mirzapur unanimously resolved not to give their land to the government under any circumstances, declaring, “Our land is our identity and livelihood.  We will not give it away at any cost.” At this stage of the Aerotropolis residents were already concerned that development of the project might eventually require an area as large as 6,000 bighas, triggering further land acquisition.

For more information including references for all source material and photos see the case report on EJAtlas, the world’s largest, most comprehensive online database of social conflict around environmental issues – Guwahati Airport expansion and Aerotropolis, Assam, India

Kenya: Trees felled in protected Imenti forest for airstrip, State Lodge and golf course

Rose Bridger Forests , , , , , , , , ,

Plans for construction of an airstrip, State Lodge and golf course in the protected Imenti forest, an important elephant habitat and water catchment area, are opposed by many residents and conservation organisations. Felling of mature trees for airstrip construction continued despite conservatory orders to protect the forest and halt the projects.

Construction of an airstrip in the Kithoka area of the protected Imenti Forest began in June 2026
Construction of an airstrip in the Kithoka area of the protected Imenti Forest began in June 2026. Satellite imagery: 16/09/2025

Reports that allocation of 50 acres of Imenti forest, near Mount Kenya, for an airstrip, State Lodge (regional presidential residence and official venue for state functions and meetings) and golf course, was under consideration emerged in September 2025. Imenti forest, a protected public forest, is a habitat for elephants and many other species, an important water catchment for rivers and streams and is a source of income from agriculture and honey harvesting. Greenpeace Africa immediately opposed allocation of part of the forest ‘for luxury projects’, arguing that it would violate the Forest Conservation and Management Act, the Constitution and be a ‘betrayal of public trust’. The Green Belt Movement called for an immediate halt to the projects, saying the developments would be a misuse of a conservation area, stating, “How does an airstrip qualify as conservation? How does a golf course protect water catchments? How does a State Lodge restore degraded ecosystems? These projects are not necessary. They are luxuries. They are symbols of privilege. They have no place in a protected public forest.” Project proponents claimed that the developments would attract investors, create employment and enable hosting of high-level government events and international visitors but environmentalists warned that a reduction in forest cover would cause soil erosion, disrupt of water flows, reduce biodiversity and facilitate further forest encroachment and ecosystem fragmentation.

The Imenti Development Forum (IDF), a group of professionals involved in conservation and establishing ICT hubs in schools, issued a press statement opposing the plans, stating, “The Imenti forest is not simply trees. It is one of the region’s most significant repositories of biological diversity- a living library accumulated over millennia that, once destroyed, cannot be rebuilt in any human timescale.” Representatives of two political parties also opposed the projects: Party of National Unity leader Peter Munya and Jubilee Party deputy leader Dr. Fred Matlang’l who said another state lodge was unnecessary as the president already has access to high-speed aircraft and safe, modern hotels. North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood had initially favoured the projects but opposed locating a State Lodge in the forest taking up more than 20 acres of land and suggested locating a golf course elsewhere.

The Meru Environment and Land Court intervened to protect Imenti forest, issuing interim preservation orders pending hearing of a constitutional petition challenging the plans. On 11th June Justice Oguttu Mboya directed maintaining the forest in its current state until a court decision, barring activities that might impact on forest before issuance of further orders. The case was filed by Francis Awino who argued that the projects could cause irreversible damage. He also asked for preservation and disclosure of records connected to the proposed development such as environmental impacts assessments, maps, correspondence, license applications and approvals and planning documentation. The petition stated. “Public forests are held in trust for both present and future generations, and the State bears a constitutional obligation to conserve and protect them.” On that same day machinery entered the Kithoka section of the forest and, protected by security, began felling mature trees. Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi said construction of an airstrip would be completed within a week, by 18th June, with the first plane expected to land on that day. Kenya Forest Service (KFS) rangers had been deployed to guard all entrances to the site and local people entering the forest were frisked to check for smartphones, presumably to prevent recording of activities in the forest.

Conservation charity Rhino Ark issued a statement strongly opposing airstrip construction in the Upper Imenti Forest Reserve and calling on the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to suspend works pending assurance of compliance with environmental laws and criticised lack of the public participation, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESIA) and a NEMA license authorising the project. Surveys had found that, during the dry season, the Upper Imenti Forest has the highest concentration of elephants in the Mount Kenya area. The airstrip was being constructed within this elephant habitat, close to an elephant maternity area where pregnant mothers migrate to give birth. Greenpeace Africa pointed out that Imenti forest forms part of a wildlife corridor linking Mount Kenya to conservation areas in the north of the country, along which elephants migrate for food, water and mating. Greenpeace Africa said the National Land Commission should “Stop the bulldozers. Respect the court order. Let the elephants keep their dry season home. And prove, for once, that development in Kenya does not have to cost us the things we cannot get back.” The Mount Kenya Trust (MKT) made a statement condemning destruction of part of Imenti forest for an airstrip, maintaining that the project is in violation of Articles 42, 69 and 70 of the Constitution and the 2016 Forest Conservation and Management Act and could undermine Kenya’s commitments to increase tree cover, protect biodiversity and restore degraded landscapes. MKT stated, “We stand with those defending the protection of Imenti Forest and all protected areas for future generations.”

Airstrip site in Imenti Forest. Satellite imagery 11/06/2026
Airstrip site before forest clearance, satellite imagery 11/06/2026
Airstrip site in Imenti Forest. Satellite imagery 13/07/2026
Airstrip site showing forest clearance, satellite imagery 13/07/2026

On 24th June Meru Environment and Land Court issued another interim conservatory order to halt construction of the airstrip, in response to a petition filed by five Meru residents. Petitioners said to the court, “The Respondents have failed to disclose Environmental Impact Assessment reports, feasibility studies, approvals, maps, acreage surveys and other statutory documents relating to the project. The proposed development threatens to cause irreversible degradation and destruction of forest resources.” The following day Meru Environment and Land Court certified an application, filed by Francis Awino, seeking to cite senior officials for contempt of court over allegations of continuing destruction of Imenti forest. In the Notice of Motion, Awino stated “Unless the contemnors are immediately summoned to answer for their actions, the authority and dignity of this Honourable Court shall be undermined…The continued and wilful acts of disobedience are causing and/or threaten to cause irreparable prejudice to the Petitioner’s constitutional rights, public interest and adversely desecrate designated forest.” A supporting affidavit alleged that, in defiance of court orders, prohibited activities continued including: granting commercial contractors, earth moving machinery and workers access to the Kithoka section of Imenti forest; felling mature trees, removing forest vegetation and clearing undergrowth to open up a corridor for a runway; bulldozing, grading and levelling works to prepare the forest floor for runway construction; and surveying forest areas for a proposed State Lodge and golf course. Geotagged satellite images, photographs and videos provided evidence of continued forest clearance. A petition filed by Meru Forest Conservation Forum and Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance resulted in a further conservatory order to halt developments in Imenti forest.

Belatedly, a public participation forum on the projects in Imenti forest was held, but it descended into chaos. The Meru Environment and Land Court had suspended the exercise as a change of venue with just 24 hours notice failed to meet the constitutional threshold for meaningful engagement. Defying a court order KFS proceeded with the forum and a group of stakeholders endorsed the airstrip, State Lodge and golf course projects. A lawyer attempting to serve a valid court order was denied access to the microphone and people presenting a petition opposing the projects that had been signed by more than 7,000 people were jeered at, threatened and removed by security officers. The Standard described the forum as ‘not public participation, but more of a staged exercise to endorse a decision that had already been made’. By 15th July 2026 the online petition, Hands Off Nkunga Forest! Stop the Destruction of Meru’s water catchment area, calling for an immediate halt to plans, surveys and budget allocation for the State Lodge, airstrip and golf course, had garnered 7,114 signatures.[17]

For more information including references for all source material, videos and photos see the case study on EJAtlas, the world’s largest, most comprehensive online database of social conflict around environmental issues – Airstrip, State Lodge and golf course in Imenti forest, Kenya

Ethiopia: Displacement and loss of farming livelihoods for Bishoftu International Airport

Rose Bridger land rights , , , , , , , , , ,

More than 15,000 people are being displaced and losing agricultural and livestock livelihoods for Bishoftu International Airport, ‘Africa’s largest airport’ with an adjoining Airport City. Affected people have concerns about inadequate compensation and resettlement and there are reports of forced eviction, harassment and intimidation.

Bishoftu Airport site, 11th June 2025Bishoftu Airport, 3rd July 2026
Timelapse aerial imagery of Bishoftu International Airport construction site. The 3rd July image shows construction site preparatory works.

On 24th March 2025 Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG) and African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a Letter of Intent for development of Abusera International Airport Project, USD7.8 billion project on a site about 40 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, near the town of Bishoftu. EAG allocated funds for preparation of a 35 square kilometre plot of land for the new airport, with budgets earmarked for land clearance, resettlement and preparing the site for construction. Demolishing structures and relocating residents was anticipated to be completed by September. Previously, in August 2024, EAG CEO Mesfin Tassew said that construction of what was described as a ‘Mega Airport City’ could only proceed with resettlement of up to 2,500 farmers residing on the site. In January 2025 concerns of affected farmers over inadequate compensation, resettlement and support for finding new livelihoods were reported.

Dispossession in the name of development

Oromia Today responded to the agreement between EAG and AfDB with an article titled ‘Development Draped in Dispossession: The Tragedy Behind the Abuu Seeraa Airport Deal’, focussing on more than 15,000 Tuulama Oromo people, indigenous to the regional state of Oromia, facing displacement for the airport. The article reported ‘families being harassed, homes being marked for removal and livelihoods being uprooted’ with no relocation process and eviction orders ‘delivered by undisciplined militias’. The article called for the AfDB to be held accountable and made three demands:

  1. A thorough re-evaluation of the airport project considering impacts on local people, heritage and the environment
  2. For development in Abuu Seeraa to ‘embody a thoughtful integration’ preserving, not erasing, the area’s history and environment with no forced eviction
  3. Fair compensation for displaced people not just with single payments but via a long-term scheme recognising them as stakeholders in the airport with a share in the project reflecting the value of the land acquired

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report for the airport, now called Bishoftu International Airport Project, was completed on 10th August 2025, several months after reports of resistance to the project had emerged. Major impacts detailed in the ESIA included acquisition of approximately 3,979 hectares of land displacing 2,731 households comprising 15,320 people. The local economy is predominantly rain-fed agriculture and livestock rearing. Common crops include teff, wheat, barley, maize and various legumes including chickpeas, beans, soya beans and peas. Livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, mules and horses are integral to local livelihoods providing milk, meat and hides. About 2,518 hectares of agricultural land, where staple crops including teff, wheat, and barley are cultivated, will be lost. In addition, 163.1 hectares of grazing land will be affected and the livelihoods of pastoralists disrupted by loss of seasonal grazing lands. Schools, roads, health and water facilities will be lost and cultural and religious sites including several churches will be impacted.

Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)

A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for Bishoftu International Airport, completed on 2nd October 2025, outlines a ‘comprehensive’ framework for engaging relevant stakeholders during pre-construction, construction and operation. The report states a ‘commitment to effective stakeholder engagement to ensure that community voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes’ with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as women, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities. Several serious risks and concerns were identified during consultations undertaken for the SEP. Project Affected Persons (PAPs) highlighted problems including disputes arising from inaccurate land demarcation, concerns over the fairness of compensation, loss of farmland and impacts on and restoration of livelihoods. Young people are identified as a vulnerable group due to worries about unemployment, loss of land inheritance and exclusion from benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Project implications for communities

In November 2025 Global Oda Nabe Association (GLONA), a USA based non-profit, civil society organisation published The New Mega Airport Project in Aabbuu, Oromia, Ethiopia: The Project Implications on Aabuu Communities. Sources from the affected community said neither the government nor EAG had engaged with them to discuss detailed resettlement plans, ‘They do not know when, where, what their rights are, the process involved for relocation, and what their fate will be following the eviction from their ancestral land. So, the affected communities are now in limbo.’ The community sources also said people raising questions and voicing concerns relating to the airport, demanding full disclosure of the project and how it would affect them, in particular regarding compensation for land, were being intimidated. Many concerning environmental consequences were identified such as deteriorating air quality and waste and sewage from the site which might pollute rivers and groundwater.

Reports of forced eviction

In December 2025 The Economist reported that the airport was expected to displace approximately 15,000 people. Reports indicated that some affected residents had received promises of housing but others were in fear of their land being taken without receiving compensation. There were also reports that activists voicing concerns about the project had been harassed and arrested. A January 2026 statement by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) condemned the planned ‘mega airport’ and adjoining ‘airport city’ as the most recent and serious chapter of displacement spanning many decades, warning of the eviction of 15,000 people from six villages. Despite allocation of ETB17 billion (USD110 million) for resettlement and rehabilitation of farmers, the situation on the ground was reported to be ‘brutal’ with OLF reporting, ‘farmers…have been forcibly ordered, in the manner of war, to leave without harvesting their crops, moving their property, or even selling their cattle’. OLF rejected rehabilitation limited to cash compensation and demanded equity instead of eviction with displaced communities granted equity shares as co-owners of the airport and intergenerational rights extending benefits to landowners’ descendants.

Displacement in the absence of Free, Prior and Informed Consent

The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) issued a statement, ‘Development Without Dignity is Dispossession’, to ‘address the grave and escalating situation’ regarding the airport project. The OFC acknowledged an appeal from the Aabbuu Seeraa community and expressed solidarity with 3,000 households ‘facing imminent eviction from their ancestral lands’. OFC described the displacement, in the absence of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), as a legal crisis, violating Article 40 of the Constitution protecting farmers’ rights to land. A call to action included demands for a moratorium on evictions, institutional dialogue, equity not eviction, cultural protection and due diligence from AfDB to ensure compliance with international human rights provisions pertaining to Development-Induced Displacement (DID). The statement concludes, ‘The Oromo Federalist Congress reiterated that we are not anti-development, we are anti-theft. We are anti-erasure. A project of this magnitude, intended to be the “Pride of Africa”, cannot begin with the shame of destroying the very people who host it.‘

Construction of ‘Africa’s largest airport’ begins

Construction of Bishoftu International Airport began on 10th January 2026. The total cost for phase 1 was stated at USD12.5 billion, accommodating 60 million passengers per year, rising to become Africa’s largest airport with a total capacity of 110 million passengers per year. Reuters reported that some young residents being displaced for the airport were worried because their parents had been given houses but they had not and renting a house is expensive. On 30th January 2026 Oromia Today published an in-depth report, ‘Aabbuu Seeraa: Building Progress on Indigenous Erasure’, decrying the displacement of approximately 15,000 people for the airport, the ‘overwhelming majority’ of whom had not received replacement housing or new livelihoods. People protesting their post-eviction situation had been incarcerated. Communities using social media to document discrepancies between the official account of their displacement and their lived reality were punished. A few new houses had been constructed but about 95 per cent of displaced people had been left without land, shelter or an alternative income. The report called for replacement housing and livelihood restoration before displacement, transparent management of compensation with auditable records, protection of the environment and heritage, sensitivity regarding demographic impacts, permanent stakeholder status for affected people and an independent international assessment to evaluate compliance with human rights standards.

Displaced residents suffer hardship

On 9th February 2026 Addis Standard reported that Abusera residents displaced for construction of Bishoftu Airport were suffering from hardship having received neither the compensation nor replacement housing they had been assured of. An affected resident said she had documentation for three inherited plots, but, since the land was acquired for the airport had not received compensation or housing. She said, “It is not only compensation, even the houses given to others were not provided to us. I am raising my grievance with government officials and I have proof of ownership.” Another resident said he had been displaced from three inherited plots of land, for which he had a court order confirming his ownership, and was living in rented accommodation having difficulties providing for his two children. On 10th February EAG stated it had built housing in Bishoftu for residents displaced by airport construction and livelihood support for had been prepared. Yet some affected residents continued to claim they had not received compensation or adequate support for resettlement. Later that month the Director General of the Petroleum and Energy Authority, Destaw Mekwanant, announced provision of a specific fuel allocation of 16.5 million litres per month for construction of Bishoftu Airport.

For more information including references for all source material, photos and graphics see the case study on EJAtlas, the world’s largest, most comprehensive online database of social conflict around environmental issues – Bishoftu International Airport and Mega Airport City, Ethiopia

Türkiye: NATO Summit in emerging complex next to Ankara Airport

Rose Bridger airport expansion , , , , , ,

Preparations for the 7-8th July NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara.involved the opening of a new military headquarters, airport expansion and a new/upgraded road network.

Ankara Airport and Ay Yildiz Joint Command Headquarters
Ankara Airport including runway extension, Ay Yildiz (Crescent and Star) Joint Command Headquarters and parts of the 12.5km new and upgraded road network

Heads of state of all 32 NATO member countries, along with Ukrainain representatives, are expected to attend the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara, capital city of Türkiye, on 7-8th July 2026. The summit will showcase the new Ay Yıldız (Crescent & Star) Joint Command Headquarters, named after the crescent and star of the national flag. Located 15 kilometres west of Ankara the 1,280 hectare complex, larger than many city centres, will host Turkey’s main military institutions including the Defense Ministry, General Staff and the army, navy and air force commands. The NATO summit will be held in the star-shaped part of the campus, prepared specifically for the event and the focal point of a 23,000 square metre ceremonial plaza. Becoming operational in phases, the wider Ay Yildiz campus will ultimately have capacity for 15,000 personnel, the central crescent-shaped building containing five conference halls. Officials have said that Ay Yildiz is larger than the US Pentagon. A new building to host the Foreign Ministry will be constructed next to the military complex. An underground operations centre focused on chemical, ballistic, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) and cybersecurity threats will be located 30 metres beneath the surface.

A new VIP airport

To the north of Ay Yildiz, Etimesgut Aır Base, a military airfield and a main base for the Turkish Air Force, also serving as a training and logistics centre, has been transformed into what some media outlets describe as a new VIP airport for presidents, prime ministers and other high-ranking officials. US President Donald Trump will be arriving for the NATO Summit in his new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. In the lead-up to the event, just before an opening ceremony on 15th June, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s aircraft was welcomed at the facility, now named Ankara Airport, with a water salute. In time for the summit, over a period of just eight months the runway was lengthened from 2,450 metres to 3,000 metres and widened from 42 metres to 60 metres to handle wide-bodied aircraft. Taxiways have been constructed and a new 160,000 square meter apron has capacity for 44 aircraft. Relocation of the VIP terminal was fast-tracked for completion in time for the NATO Summit and high-ranking visitors can be accommodated in a new 4,800 square metre state guesthouse (an official venue for state functions and meetings). A new parking area is large enough for 310 vehicles.

A new/upgraded road network

The airport expansion project, estimated by the government to cost 10 billion lira (USD320 million), included construction of Baskent Aviation Bridge (Başkent Havacılık Köprüsü) and 12.5 kilometres of new and upgraded roads connecting Ankara Airport with surrounding areas, including a 3 kilometre dedicated connection road between the airport and the NATO Summit venue. Aırport and road expansion impacted on the Ankara Sugar Factory industrial complex, which was established in the late 1950s. Several residential blocks were demolished and some administrative buildings removed. The airport upgrade and road projects have also led to changes to or removal of public transport routes in some neighbouring districts, in some of which, such as Batikent and Eryaman, where residents might experience an increase in aircraft noise.

Pre-summit crackdown

During the lead up to the summit Turkish authorities launched a crackdown on civil society. Protests were banned, along with public gatherings, press conferences and displaying posters. In Ankara, 40,000 police were deployed and on 23rd June 225 people, including academics and activists, were detained on suspicion of links to militants organisations such as Islamic State. Media freedoms were curbed including refusing accreditation dozens of journalists, to the NATO summit. Together with 14 press freedom organisations the International Press Institute (IPI) sent a letter to NATO chief Mark Rutte, calling on the alliance to reconsider the accreditations. One of the journalists whose accreditation was denied, Işın Eliçin of the independent media outlet Halk TV, said, “An unexplained exclusion of journalists restricts media freedom and ultimately the public’s rights…to receive independent information about NATO’s work.” IPI national committee member Uraz Kaspar said, “Every rejected journalist deserves a clear, specific and transparent reason for their denial.” Then, on 4th July, two days before the summit, more than 100 people, members of the TKP (Communist Party) participating in an anti-NATO demonstration in Kizilay Square in central Ankara, were detained by authorities. Protest spread from Ankara to Istanbul where there was a heavy police presence but no clashes were reported.

Niger: Eviction of 26,000 people from settlements surrounding Niamey airport

Rose Bridger land rights , , , , ,

Following an armed attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and an adjacent military base a massive operation to evict about 26,000 people from four surrounding neighbourhoods began.

Diori Hamani International Airport
Diori Hamani International Airport, Niger’s main airport, is located in the southeastern suburbs of Niamey, the capital city

On 31st May 2026 authorities in Niamey, the capital city of Niger, began a massive operation to evict about 26,000 people living in four neighbourhoods – Mutram, Alpha Djadi, Extension Alpha Djadi and Extension Kobontafa – surrounding Diori Hamani International Airport. Residents in the path of demolition machinery dismantled their homes, salvaging iron roofing and other materials. The eviction began without informing them about financial compensation. Nigerien authorities claimed the demolition exercise was necessary, to remove obstacles posing risks for aviation safety and because the settlements are a threat to national security. The airport and Base Aérienne 101, part of the same complex and just 10 kilometres from the presidential palace, are of strategic importance to Niger’s security architecture, hosting important military installations and the headquarters of the Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali Joint Force. Security concerns were heightened in the aftermath of the militant attack on the airport and airbase that occurred on the night of 28-29th January 2026. Nigerien forces killed 20 assailants, four soldiers were wounded and damage to three aircraft was reported. Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack; President General Abdourahamane Tchiani said the attack was an infiltration attempt by ‘mercenaries’ and alleged that the assailants had been directed by external influences.

Residents had only received three and a half weeks’ notice of the impending eviction, several property owners had requested an extension of the notice period before demolitions began, but authorities refused. At a 7th May press briefing the governor of the Niamey region, Major General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, said, “The presence of illegal homes near the airport is not only a factor of congestion but also a serious threat to national security.” Many residents disputed claims by authorities that their settlements are illegal, saying that their acquisition of the land from developers was legitimate, that they have documentation and have invested significant funds to build their homes. The four affected areas occupy 19 per cent of land title No. 784 which was assigned to the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) in 1953. Moves to evict people from the area date back many years, a deadline for eviction of occupants on the land had been set for 5th May 2013 but the plan was not executed. Authorities executing the current mass eviction have acknowledged that there are ‘legitimate victims’ who purchased plots of land in good faith,

On 4th June African Insider reported that thousands of homes were being razed, predominantly to the east of the airport, with evicted people loading furniture and other possessions onto cars and tricycles. Transport and Aviation Minister, colonel Amados Abdramane said this was the area where attacker came from and that it was “occupied in an anarchic way”. Interior Minister, general Mohamed Toumba, said he feared “a new terrorist infiltration through those neighbourhoods” and that lack of security might cause international authorities to downgrade the airport. A civil society figure said, “Forcing 26,000 people to leave is the equivalent of a small town”, adding, “Even if the operations is considered ‘necessary’, whatever the reason, Nigerien law and international standards require strict support measures. Without that, it becomes a forced and inhuman eviction.” A political analyst said, “The government should have taken the social aspect into account and made appropriate arrangements to rehouse those concerned before demolishing the homes they had acquired over many years. Social justice is a demand of the sovereign people.”

Authorities had promised to compensate affected people but on 10th June it was reported that residents had been neither rehoused nor compensated. Justice Minister Alio Daouda said, “The State cannot leave people in the streets” but claimed that the sudden demolitions were necessitated by “security imperatives that cannot wait”. On 16th June 2026 the affected residents’ legal representative, Maître Idrissa Tchernaka, held a press conference in response to the Justice Minister’s announcement that all displaced households would be allocated a new plot of land and receive compensation according to the size and value of the properties they had lost. He said his clients welcomed the authorities’ willingness to provide redress for their abrupt displacement but that their acceptance depended on fair and transparent valuation of their property. Residents welcomed the promise of resettlement but expressed concerns over possible bureaucratic delays and called for the land allocation process to be expedited.

Following the 28th-29th January attack the airport perimeter fence was extended and more than 350 security cameras installed inside and outside of the perimeter. On the morning of 18th June 2026 a second armed attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and the military base took place. Gunshots and explosions were first heard at 5am and continued for several hours. In the afternoon a lock down was imposed with security forces searching vehicles entering and leaving the airport vicinity. The Ministry of Defence stated that 35 people were killed in the attack: 22 assailants, eleven soldiers and two civilians. Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the attack and the defence ministry placed the blame on ‘armed mercenaries’ sponsored by France.

Vietnam: Development of dual-use (civilian and military) airport on Tho Chu Island

Rose Bridger Forests , , ,

Conversion of 270 hectares of forest land has been approved for construction of Tho Chi Airport, classified by the Ministry of National Defence as an ‘urgent public investment project’ with an estimated total investment of VND28.8 trillion (USD1.1 billion).

Tho Chu Island, aerial imagery 9th May 2014Tho Chu Island, aerial imagery 18th Feb 2026
Aerial imagery of Tho Chu Island.shows forest clearance, road network development and land reclamation that occurred between 9th May 2014 and 18th February 2026.

Geographically remote from the Vietnam mainland, and home to only 1,800 people, Tho Chu is located about 110km southwest of Phú Quốc Island in the Gulf of Thailand and is part of the An Giang province. Tho Chu is the largest and the administrative centre of eight islands comprising the Tho Chu Special Economic Zone and the archipelago is only accessible be sea. On a November 2025 visit, Party General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission, To Lam, called for transformation of the newly established zone into a ‘strong and sustainable maritime zone’, directing the Ministry of National Defence and other agencies to develop a master plan with feasibility studies for housing, upgrade of coastal road and other transport infrastructure, water and energy projects, and large seafood logistics and processing facilities. He spoke of the Tho Chu islands’ pristine ecosystems with clean seas, high-yielding fishing grounds, forest cover of 80-90%, sunny weather for seven months of the year and unique landscapes being ideally suited for ‘eco-tourism’. He also urged the Ministry of National Defence to consider construction of a dual-use (civilian and military) airport on Tho Chu Island, initially a 4C airport with capacity to handle narrow-bodied aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and A321 with potential future expansion to a 4E airport handling wide-bodied aircraft including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.

Plans for an airport on Tho Chu Island moved forward in December 2025 when Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence submitted a dossier for high-level review. The Tho Chu Airport master plan, for a dual-use airport, serving socio-economic development and transforming Tho Chu into a defence centre for the southwestern sea region, was added to the national airport network in May 2026. With an estimated total investment is VND28.8 trillion (USD1.1 billion) and land requirement of approximately 234 hectares the new airport is anticipated to reach capacity for approximately 20,000 passengers annually by 2030, rising to about 1 million passengers per year by 2050. The approved Tho Chu Airport plan is classified by the Ministry of National Defence as an ‘urgent public investment project’, exempt from investment policy approval and environmental impact assessment processes. The airport project aligns with the An Giang Province 2021-2030 development plan and on 21st May 2026 An Giang Province authorities approved conversion of 270 hectares of forest land for building Tho Chi Airport. The investor committed to pay for planting replacement forest. But newly planted forest is not a replacement for the biodiversity that builds up over time in long-established forest. And aerial imagery, in the timelapse graphic above, shows that, between April 2014 and February 2026, approximately 243 hectares of forest on Tho Chu Island was cleared. Grading works, levelling the site for construction, are underway, along with smaller scale forest clearance for coastal and access road development.

Iraq: Radwaniyah residents protest displacement for Baghdad Financial and Economic City

Rose Bridger land rights , , , , , , , ,

Residents of Radwaniyah, an agricultural area south of Baghdad International Airport, protested allocation of a large land area for Baghdad Financial and Economic City, also referred to a Al-Rafeel City, demanding a halt to planning and construction activities and a comprehensive audit of the investment contract.

Radwaniyah is south of Baghdad International Airport
Radwaniyah is an agricultural area south of Baghdad International Airport. Aerial imagery: 22/11/2025 and 07/04/2026

On 30th May 2026 a major protest erupted in the Radwaniyah district, an agricultural area south of Baghdad International Airport, over government plans to hand over large areas of land surrounding the airport to foreign firms. Local residents and community leaders gathered to issue an urgent call for protection of their property rights and ancestral territories from corporate appropriation. The area allocated for development encompasses land belonging to families who have lived on it for many generations. Ayad al-Jubouri, a Member of Parliament, called on Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi to suspend the investment licence and stop an administrative decree that could lead to forcible displacement of more than 120,000 residents. He said local residents would “prefer death over surrendering their lands”. Protesters demanded a halt to planning and construction activities until verification of the investment contract by a comprehensive legal and administrative audit. The protest followed several critical statements by al-Jubouri, most recently alleging serious corruption orchestrated by the National Investment Commission (NIC) which, he said, had granted an investment licence to an Egyptian firm, giving the developer more than 580 hectares of valuable Radwaniyah real estate for construction of Al-Rafeel, a large residential project.

TMG investment contract and land bank

The day after the protest, 1st June, one of Egypt’s largest real estate development companies, Talaat Moustafa Group Holding (TMG), announced receipt of an investment licence from the NIC for its subsidiary Talaat Moustafa Company Baghdad for development of an ‘integrated urban community’ southwest of Baghdad. TMG also secured a large land bank of 1,280 hectares for the project, ‘strategically located within Baghdad Financial and Economic city’ with direct connectivity to key administrative and financial districts. Infrastructure costs are to be met by investors who are expected to reap significant returns. The project is anticipated to generate about $18.8 billion in sales and annual revenues of approximately $108 million from leasing and hospitality upon completion of the 16-year development period. In addition to approximately 43,000 residential units to accommodate 250,000 residents the project master plan includes about 230 hectares of retail and commercial assets including a ‘regional mall’, offices, administrative space, religious and civic facilities, sports and social club, entertainment venues, parks and green space. Company headquarters, offices and large warehouses will be relocated from central Baghdad, one of the most heavily congested cities in the Middle East, to the new city.

Land ownership and MoU

In the days preceding the protest the NIC emphasised the legitimacy of the new financial and economic city, stating that the project is part of the urban planning framework and consistent with the Baghdad 2030 Comprehensive Development Plan. The NIC stated that the land is government-owned, by the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance and that occupation of the Ministry of Transport land ‘constitutes an unlawful encroachment’ while the Ministry of Finance Land had been transferred to the NIC. Agricultural contracts on the land were declared legally void on the basis that plots had been converted to commercial purposes, The NIC also stated that the Ministry of Resources had confirmed that continued zoning as agricultural land would be unworkable as there is no existing or planned allocation of water for the land designated for the new city. Six months previously, in November 2025 a TMG delegation led by Chairman Hisham Talaat Moustafa had met with then Prime Minster Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani for discussions focused on Al-Rafeel Economic City. Moustafa reviewed progress on the project and affirmed TMG’s commitment to advancing it in accordance with the implementation framework. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Al-Rafeel Economic City between TMG and the NIC was signed in May 2025 and the agreement includes participation from Saudi Arabia-based Al Muhaidib Group, one of the largest investment groups in the Middle East. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Mohammed Al Sudani, Hisham Talaat Moustafa and NIC Chairman Haider Makiya and Al-Muhaidib Group.Chairman Suleiman bin Abdul Qader. At this juncture the project was described as spanning 1,400 hectares with about 46,000 residential and mixed-use units.

Land allocation in 2021, forced evictions in 2019

The Council of Ministers approved allocation of 106,000 acres (42,897 hectares) of land in the area surrounding Baghdad Intl. Airport to the NIC to oversee construction of the ‘Al-Rafael’ city project on 15th June 2021, envisaging a new administrative capital similar to counterparts in some neighbouring countries. NIC Chairwoman Suha Daoud Najjar outlined four phases of development, the first providing housing for 300,000 people along with commercial, educational, medical and recreational complexes on 16,000 acres (6,475 hectares). Plans for the second phase included industrial and logistics projects adjacent to the airport and third phase plans were described as ‘environmentally friendly agricultural and food projects’. A fourth phase would be located northwest of the airport in the Abu Ghraib district. Evictions from land surrounding Baghdad Intl. Airport pre-date the 2021 announcement of Al Rafeel city. In July 2019 Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor condemned the seizure of thousands of acres of land near the airport for UAE-based commercial and real estate investment firm Daico International Holdings and other investment firms, following orders issued by the NIC. The report stated that the eviction and forced displacement without compensation violated Article One of the Iraqi Constitution, which safeguards private property and of Article Two which affirms that expropriation is only permitted if it is in the public interest and people are fairly compensated. People affected by the land seizure included a man from eastern Radwaniyah who was told to vacate his 20 acres of land for a businessman said to be close to NIC. Fear of retaliation, in the form of forced displacement or imprisonment, deterred him from taking his grievance to court.

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USA: Petition to regulate health-damaging pollution from commercial aviation

Rose Bridger Campaigns , , , , , , ,

On 4th May 2026 a petition was filed requesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate harmful aerosol (microscopic particle) emissions from commercial aviation. Every year, commercial aviation injects about 747 million pounds (339 million kilograms) of sulfur into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, along with other pollutants – black carbon, metallic aerosols, and ultrafine particles (UFPs). Aircraft emissions are causing atmospheric alterations. In certain conditions contrails form artificial cloud cover, rainfall patterns are disrupted and a solar dimming haze impairs visibility and reduces the availability of sunlight for the human body’s production of vitamin D, crop growth and solar panels. Sulfates and metals from aviation exhaust eventually settle on land and water, contaminating agricultural soil and watersheds. People living near airports are particularly at risk of damage to their health from higher concentrations of aviation-induced pollutants in localised ‘acute toxicity zones’, which can extend several kilometres downwind of airports. Concentrations of UFPs near airports are ‘catastrophically elevated’; an increase in particle numbers of 100-900% over the background (regional baseline) level extending 18km downwind of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has been documented. Every claim in the petition is derived from peer-reviewed science and government agencies’ own studies and data. The petitioners are requesting a formal finding that emission of pollutants from civil aircraft endanger human health and welfare, binding emission and fuel standards, a public registry of aviation-related particulate emissions and mandatory contrail avoidance, with implementation to be coordinated by the FAA and Secretary of Transportation. If the EPA fails to issue a public response within 180 days the petitioners intend to seek a judicial review. Here is a link to the petition PETITION FOR RULEMAKING UNDER 5 U.S.C. § 553(e) AND CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA) § 231 REGARDING:AVIATION AEROSOL EMISSIONS, AVIATION-INDUCED CLOUDINESS (AIC) AND THE ENDANGERMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE There is also a helpful EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of the petition, translating the unavoidably complex legalese into plain English. Key people involved in the two years of work it took to develop this landmark legal action held a public webinar, see below, on the day it was submitted.

USA: Farmland seized for new corporate/private jet airport in Spalding County, Georgia

Rose Bridger land rights , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Farmland has been seized for a new airport in Spalding County, Georgia. Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport will serve corporate/private jets, has received federal, state and local government funding and is intended to spur real estate development in a large ‘Airport Impact Area’.

Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport site boundary
Boundary of the new Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport site, New Airport Location Map, Lamar County Commissioners, 13/01/2025, overlaid on aerial imagery dated 30/12/2025

Construction of a new airport for corporate/private jets, northeast of the City of Griffin in Spalding County, Georgia, USA has commenced. A Farm Journal article by Chris Bennett describes the seizure of a large area of Jeff Melin’s farm by eminent domain (government power to take land, with compensation, for public use such as infrastructure projects) for the new airport. The 225-acre middle section of his 450-acre farm, containing pasture, cattle, woodland, deer, dove field and a pecan tree grove, has been appropriated, which will leave his farmland on either side of the airport site landlocked. Trees, many more than a century old, at the edge of the pecan grove have already been felled to make way for airport construction and concrete poles for power lines are being erected. Melin first learned of the airport project in 2012, from a newspaper article showing his farm as one of four or five possible sites for a new airport with 124 hangars for corporate jets. He says authorities never communicated with him face to face and would not listen to him, just sending letters, making announcements and conducting ever more studies. Now Melin has been issued with an order to vacate within 90 days; he has to remove equipment and at least 65 cows and 30 calves. Melin say he is being forced to accept payment for the land which is far lower than what comparable property has been sold for. But he does not want to part with the land at any price. Melin said, “They force me to sell against my will and then pay a fraction of the value. And I’m not allowed to turn them down. My story will make you question what kind of country you’re living in” The farm has been in the family since they arrived in Griffin in 1951. Year after year Melin has worked to improve the farmland but none of this was factored into the evaluation.

Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport will be far larger than the existing Griffin-Spalding County Airport located south of the central business district of the City of Griffin, only 3 miles southwest of the new airport site, . The 5,500-6,000 foot runway will be nearly twice the length of the established airport’s 3,100-foot runway. The Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport site is significantly larger as well, encompassing 730 acres, over three and a half times the size of the existing airport’s 198-acre site. The airport site was among seven potential sites identified in the Griffin-Spalding County Airport; Airport Site Selection Study prepared for the City of Griffin and Spalding County by LPA Group Incorporated in 2008. The introduction to the study states that an ‘aeronautical industrial park adjacent to a new airport’ could help achieve industrial growth plans and that in ‘the process to find suitable land area for a new airport, this study considered an additional area for industrial development’. A map of Site 6, subsequently selected for the airport, shows a 320-acre Airport Area with a 5,500-foot runway. A second map of Site 6 shows a larger 392-acre Airport Area including a 500-foot runway extension plus an adjoining 351-acre Industrial Area, extending south of the runway with a smaller area on the other side. The combined area of the Airport Area and the Industrial Area is 743 acres.

In March 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, (FONSI) Record of Decision (ROD) determining that ‘the project as proposed would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment’ and deeming an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) unnecessary. The FONSI decision was based on information contained in a December 2011 Environmental Assessment (EA) for a replacement airport, prepared by LPA Group, and other applicable documents. Two potential alternative sites to replace the existing Griffin-Spalding County Airport, where expansion is constrained by a large amount of residential and commercial development surrounding it, were considered. A runway at least 5,500 feet in length and 100 feet wide with a parallel taxiway would enable the new airport to accommodate 75 per cent of large general aviation aircraft including Learjets, Cessna Citation 500s, Raytheon Hawkers, Dassault Falcons and the Bombardier Challenger 300.

The EA identified the site where the airport is now being constructed as the Preferred Build Alternative, requiring acquisition of 320 acres of land comprising 51 land parcels, many of which were uninhabited so relocation of residents would not be necessary. The EA notes that land acquisition would result in conversion of the land from agricultural and residential use to aviation use and clearance of approximately 260 acres of forest. Forest types identified within the site boundary and runway protection zones included bluff, slope and ravine forest along with pine and oak-hickory successional forests. The site includes approximately 37.1 acres of prime farmland and 55.6 acres of farmland categorised as of ‘statewide importance’. About 33.5 acres of floodplain and 7,368 feet of streams would be lost to airport construction. Maps of existing land use and future land use in and around the airport site show large areas of Agriculture/Forest converted to Medium and Low-Density Residential with narrow corridors of ‘Open Space Network’. A large commercial area is shown south of the airport site, with smaller industrial areas and a large industrial area to the south of AKB Parkway. An expanded ‘ultimate build-out of the Airport’ with a 6,500-foot runway is ‘reasonably foreseeable’. This would require conversion of 239 acres of federally protected farmland and relocation of 49 acres of residences.

Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport, Airport Impact Area
Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport site and Airport Impact Area, as shown in Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport Strategic Development Plan, KB Advisory Group, page 5, overlaid on aerial imagery dated 30/12/2025

Georgia based Croy Engineering was selected as the prime consultant for development of the new airport in 2018, assisting with development of a financial plan and procurement of a USD8.5 million grant for the final design. The Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport Strategic Development Plan, prepared for Spalding County and the City of Griffin by KB Advisory Group based on data up to 2025, summarises the purpose of the project, ‘The new airport can serve as the driver for increased personal & business/corporate aviation traffic, expedite the corridor as a manufacturing and distribution hub, support technical training and research for the aerospace industry, and become a local destination for the community.’ Commercial and industrial corridor development is envisaged along the AKB Parkway which runs south of the airport site. The plan identifies an ‘Airport Impact Area‘ representing ‘potential real estate development capture’, forecasting future real estate demand for four key land use types: 29 million square feet of new industrial/flex (versatile property that can be utilised for a combination of warehouse, distribution, office and retail) space, 79,800-97,000 square feet of new retail space and 1,796 housing units by 2045, plus 180 additional hotel rooms by 2035. The Airport Impact Area, including the airport site, encompasses more than 18,500 acres of land. The report recommends infrastructure development to signal site readiness and reduce risks to developers, initially prioritising shovel ready sites to market the corridor. The Immediate Priority: Target Area 1 extends along both sides of the AKB. The Medium-Term: Impact Area is the entire Airport Impact Area.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport took place on 7th May 2026 with over 50 people in attendance, including Department of Transportation (DOT) Under Secretary Ryan McCormack who echoed President Donald Trump’s lauding of the One BIg Beautiful Bill Act with his description of the airport as “big and beautiful“, Congressman Brian Jack, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry and local leaders. Construction of the airport is scheduled to be completed by 2030. Griffin-Spalding Regional Airport, the first new airport to be constructed in Georgia since 2008, is supported by federal, state and local funding. Congressman Brian Jack stated that to date the project has secured a total of USD83.4 million including USD8.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, USD8.8 million from a Congressional Community Project Funding appropriation, USD47.2 million from the Georgia General Assembly, USD11.9 million from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Airport Aid Development program and USD7 million from a local bond.