Review Forestry Law Now, CSOs Tell C'River Government
By Ekanem ASUQUO
A coalition of 19 civil society organisations in Cross River State has urged the state government to urgently review the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010, warning that rapid forest depletion attributable to existing weak laws threatens the environment and the economic future of the state.
The groups, led by We The People, made the call in Calabar during a media briefing where they presented a policy document titled Recommended Reviews of the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010. They said the existing legislation no longer reflects current environmental realities and emerging global opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer of Padic Africa, Dr Martin Egot, explained that the report was the outcome of six months of consultations with community leaders, academics, conservationists and legal experts. He noted that Cross River, home to Nigeria’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest and part of the Lower Guinean forest belt in West Africa, has lost more than 60 percent of its original forest cover.
According to him, widespread logging, wildlife exploitation, agricultural expansion and weak enforcement of regulations have reduced vast areas of dense rainforest to degraded land and grassland.
Former lawmaker for Yakurr 1 State Constituency, Hon Nelson Ofem, who presented the recommendations, said the Forestry Law enacted in 2010 was progressive at the time but now requires strengthening to address climate change pressures, organised forest crimes and emerging carbon finance opportunities.
He stressed the need to align forest governance with climate commitments by recognising forests as climate assets capable of attracting international funding. The coalition recommended provisions that would promote large scale afforestation and reforestation and position the state to benefit from global carbon markets.
The groups also called for tougher sanctions against illegal logging and wildlife trafficking, describing current penalties as too weak to deter offenders. They advocated improved monitoring systems, stronger inter agency collaboration and greater transparency in forest licensing processes.
In addition, the coalition urged the government to reform governance structures by clearly defining institutional responsibilities and incorporating communities, academia and civil society actors into forest management frameworks to ensure accountability and sustainability.
The organisations identified ecotourism as a viable economic pathway if forest resources are properly managed. They called for legal backing for conservation based enterprises and responsible public private partnerships.
They further demanded guaranteed participation of indigenous and forest dependent communities through co management arrangements and recognition of traditional knowledge systems.
Ofem, who heads the Nelson Ofem Initiative, said protecting forests goes beyond conserving trees and is essential for safeguarding biodiversity, livelihoods, climate stability and the long term economic prosperity of Cross River State.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Dr Odiga Odiga, said a review of the law has become imperative to close loopholes currently exploited by illegal loggers.
Executive Director of We The People, Ken Henshaw, added that weak legal provisions and the expansion of commercial agriculture driven by cocoa and palm oil investments have intensified pressure on forest reserves. He maintained that protecting the forests would unlock conservation incentives, boost ecotourism and preserve cultural heritage, wildlife habitats, food sources and medicinal resources for present and future generations.
