By Godwin Otang
The conversation around the massive unchecked deforestation across Cross River State took center stage again on Thursday in Calabar with stakeholders accusing the Government, farmers and miners of being major drivers during a roundtable to preserve the State’s biodiversity.
Cross River hosts more than 50 percent of Nigeria’s remaining rainforest which for about a decade has witnessed an uncontrolled invasion by illegal loggers and illegal wildlife traffickers despite a moratorium in place which was only lifted in August 2023.
Read Also: Gov. Otu Lifts Ban On Logging, Dissolves Anti-Deforestation Taskforce
And, on Thursday, a Civil Society Organization, We The People – Center for Social Studies and Development WTP – CSSD gathered stakeholders in a roundtable discussion to discuss the drivers of deforestation and a way forward of which strengthening the Cross River State Forestry Commission, CRSFC by amending its law was one.
Setting the tone, the Executive Director, WTP-CSSD, Ken Henshaw in his welcome address lamented what he described as an “unprecedented forest loss,” in the past decade.
Henshaw who enjoined participants to express themselves without reservations, averred that the forest is now being traded like a commodity and that is what needs to be tackled.
In what may seem a headache for farmers, the Chairman of the CRSFC, George O’ben-Etchi blamed deforestation on the massive cultivation of Cocoa, Oil Palm.
“Cocoa and Oil Palm are major drivers of deforestation today, but mind you, Cocoa and Oil Palm cannot replace the forest. They cannot protect us from the kind of environmental dangers we face, the way the natural forest trees protect us,” the former lawmaker said.
He further claimed that the Superhighway project which was promoted by the immediate past Governor, Senator Benedict Ayade also helped drive deforestation in places it never occurred.
The controversial project attracted criticism from far and wide especially with the publication of the revocation of 10 kilometers on both sides of the planned 274 kilometer route which meant about 25 percent of the entire landmass of the State.
Read More: Cross River Government Reverses Order Of Acquisition Of 10km Land On Either Side Of Super Highway
A former Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Odigha Odigha under whose tenure the moratorium was placed on logging as part of the resolutions from a stakeholders summit, 15 years ago stressed the need for people to work with the government to ensure the desired goal of protecting the forest is achieved.
Odigha posited that there is no time for blame games anymore, adding that the government can’t do it alone as logging now occurs everywhere in the State.
Read More: #TDWAJ EPISODE 369 – Illegal Wildlife Trafficking In Cross River State And The Way Forward
Other factors identified by discussants include, Indiscriminate mining, timber logging, corruption, insincerity and unquenchable quest to make money as well as the massive Unemployment in the state.
Several other discussants drawn from networks, coalitions, the media, communities etc berated the Governor Ayade’s led administration and accused it of having a deliberate agenda to destroy the forest.
Discussants also raised eyebrows on the repeated approval of mining licenses by the federal government to companies without identifiable Environmental Impact Assessment reports to carry out mining activities inside the Cross River State National Park.
Discussants agreed that there is a need to amend the Cross River State Forestry Commission law to strengthen the institution; called for the mop-up of harvested timber across the State and stopping timber from leaving the State after it is harvested to shore up revenue.
Discussants also mulled legal action on the issuing of mining licenses in reserved and conserved areas, called for capacity building, sensitization and awareness creation by Civil Society Organizations, amongst others.
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