User:Panders2025/Firestone Natural Rubber Company

Advertisement for Firestone's factory and exhibition building at the World's Fair showing Liberians harvesting and transporting rubber

In 1926, the Liberian government granted Firestone a 99–year lease for a million acres (to be chosen by the company wherever in Liberia) at a price of 6 cents per acre,[2] Firestone then set about establishing rubber tree plantations of the non–native South American rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis in the country, eventually creating the world's largest rubber plantation.[1] As of 2005, Firestone plantations represented almost one-third of the land dedicated to rubber cultivation in Liberia.

The United States government was involved in the offshore rubber production operation from the outset, as scholar Christine Whyte point out: "The deal had the approval of the U.S. State Department, who hoped that the huge contract would keep Liberia within the American sphere of influence, without necessitating direct governmental control. The last–minute addition of a twenty–five million dollar loan attached to the concession was intended to ensure that American corporate influence dominated."[3]

Establishing the plantations brought significant changes to local settlements. Residents of Harbel in Margibi County were forced to relocate to nearby Grand Bassa County. The displaced were not adequately compensated for their losses and continue to face uncertainty regarding land tenure. Their new settlement has the Bassa name Queezahn. Quee means “white” or “civilized,” while Zahn translates to “leave this place.” Similar displacement occurred in parts of Division 22, where residents had to move or risk being forced out by controlled burns. In addition to agricultural land itself, Firestone infrastructure required additional clearing. In a 1941 agreement with the United States Government, Firestone imported caterpillar tractors and bulldozers to clear 25,000 acres of land along the Farmington River for the construction of Liberia's first airport, now Roberts International Airport. Firestone constructed hangars, ancillary buildings, and an 8,700 foot runway on this site.

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Firestone made efforts to foster the development of Liberia's local rubber industry by distributing pamphlets, conducting soil surveys, and providing credit for harvesting materials to local producers. They also supplied seedlings and high-yielding budded trees. Firestone remained the sole purchaser of rubber in Liberia until the mid 1950s, exerting significant control over the Liberian economy as a result. Additionally, the ownership of native Liberian rubber production predominantly resides with a small group of individuals who control the majority of the productive land. These producers typically have America-Liberian rather than tribal heritage and are drawn from the Liberian ruling class.

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Environmental record

Firestone utilized controlled burns during the dry season and manual clearing with axes and saws during the rainy season to clear extensive areas of land for rubber cultivation. By early 1929, Firestone had cleared over 15,000 acres of land. They replaced native trees, including those with medicinal or ritualistic value such as the sasswood, red ironwood, and cassipourea firestoneana trees, with meticulously arranged rows of rubber trees. Tapping operations commenced shortly thereafter, and by 1940, Firestone had achieved a production of over 7,000 tons of latex per year.

Dense forest with rows of Hevea brasiliensis at the Firestone Plantation in Harbel, Margibi County

Monoculture agriculture, as practiced on the Firestone Plantations, often leads to a reduction in biological diversity, altering the environment and facilitating the spread of insects and disease. During periods of heightened rubber demand, such as the Second World War, Firestone workers implemented intensive tapping techniques that proved particularly detrimental to the health of the trees. Similarly, during downturns in car production and tire replacement, the profitability of planting and exporting rubber diminished. In the wake of the Great Depression, thousands of acres on Firestone plantations were left untended, leading to fungal growth and root rot. The presence of uniform waterways and walking paths provided ideal conditions for the unchecked expansion of the black fly, Simulium yahense, and the parasitic worm, Onchocerca volvulus.

In 1934, a smallpox outbreak occurred at Plantation Number 2, prompting a team of doctors to initiate the vaccination of hundreds of workers Additionally, a yellow fever outbreak in Monrovia in the late 1920s heightened concerns among Firestone leadership. During this period, the Firestone plantation served as a sanctuary for white foreigners in the city seeking refuge from the illness. Workers, particularly those with domestic responsibilities, were regularly administered vaccines to mitigate the risk of infection of Firestone employees. Numerous doctors and medical professionals conducted tests to assess the effectiveness of vaccines among Liberian workers.

To facilitate clearing, tappers applied the herbicide 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a substance that has since been phased out due to recognized health and environmental risks. Similarly, the fungicide captafol, extensively used during that period, has been discontinued in the United States since 1987 due to its carcinogenic properties. Captafol often spilled into and onto harvesting materials of Firestone workers. In 2005, residents living near Firestone Plantations alleged that chemical runoff from rubber production flowed into the Farmington River and prevented local use. Representatives from Firestone have denied these allegations.

Bibliography

1. Siegel, S., Mitman, G., & Fahnbulleh, M. (2017). The land beneath our feet. Passion River (00:22:08-00:22:34).