Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General (CG) of the National Park Service, has blamed forest communities in Cross River for complicity in forest destruction, saying local support is key to exploitation.
Goni made the statement in Calabar during a stakeholder dialogue organised by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in partnership with the National Park Service and other stakeholders on forest and biodiversity protection. The event also marked the official launch of the European Union (EU) PROFAB project.
The EU PROFAB project aims to protect forest ecosystems and biodiversity while enhancing climate sustainability.
Goni, represented by Caroline Olori, former CP of Cross River National Park, emphasised that climate change is real and that protecting forests is not the sole responsibility of government.
“The ongoing destruction of forests in the state happens because outsiders come, offer money, and the youths as well as the whole community join and accept them,” he said.
“There is a fire on the mountain and unless we act now, it will continue. Forests take years to grow but can be destroyed in days. Climate change is real; the extreme heat, floods and environmental changes we thought were far away are upon us today because of our continued forest destruction. At the end of this meeting, each of us must go back determined to act; if we say we will no longer allow outsiders to exploit our forests, they cannot,” Goni added.
Dr Inaoyom Imong, Country Director of WCS, said the programme aimed to foster sincere dialogue among stakeholders on policies, legal frameworks, and institutional strategies to enhance forest protection.
“The Cross River forest is fast declining and if something is not urgently done, the state risks losing all its forests very soon. Communities are very important; the fight to protect the forest cannot succeed without the active participation and support of royal fathers. Conservation here is not just for its own sake, but to improve the well-being and livelihood of communities living around forest areas; this is why WCS puts communities first,” Imong said.
Mr George Oben-Etchi, Chairman of the Cross River Forestry Commission, noted that the Cross River National Park harbours the state’s biodiversity and forest. Represented by Mr Clement Omina, he said communities’ lives are intricately tied to the forests and biodiversity.“
Whatever errors or efforts put in place previously to ensure protection of forest resources and biodiversity, this meeting will bring out new ways of positively relating with the environment,” he added.
Mr Bette Obi, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Biodiversity in the state assembly, commended the organisers and noted that illegal mining in Cross River was becoming a challenge.
“More efforts in sensitisation and enforcement of regulations are necessary for communities to curb the problems of illegal mining in the state,” he said.
The meeting, attended by traditional rulers from forest communities, also included brainstorming sessions on solutions to tackle forest depletion in Cross River.
(NAN)