Stakeholders from government, civil society, traditional institutions, the private sector, and forest-edge communities have issued a united call for urgent and coordinated action to stop the rapid destruction of forests and biodiversity in Cross River State.
The call was made during a stakeholder meeting held on Friday in Calabar, convened by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and funded by the European Union, under the Protection of Forests and Biodiversity in Cross River State (PROFAB) project.
Cross River State, which hosts the largest stretch of Nigeria’s remaining tropical rainforest and is home to rare and endangered species, including the Cross River gorilla, faces growing threats from deforestation, illegal logging, unsustainable agricultural practices, artisanal mining, wildlife trafficking, and policy inconsistencies.
Participants at the meeting expressed concern about the weaknesses in the enforcement of forest and environmental laws, the inadequate capacity of state institutions, and the limited involvement of local communities in forest governance.
The stakeholders urged the Cross River State Government, the Federal Government, and local authorities to ensure the full enforcement of existing forestry and wildlife protection laws and prosecute violators to deter further destruction.
They called for strengthening the Cross River State Forestry Commission to effectively carry out its legal duties, supported by sufficient funding and political backing. They highlighted the need to harmonise policies among government agencies, traditional authorities, security forces, and protected area managers to improve coordination and prevent illegal activities within protected landscapes.
The communique emphasised the urgent need to promote community-based forest management through secure land tenure, participatory decision-making, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and livelihood options such as climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, ecotourism, and the development of non-timber forest products. Stakeholders also called for a consistent policy approach that resists pressures to de-reserve forest areas in favour of cash crop expansion, particularly in cocoa-producing zones.
To strengthen forest protection, the stakeholders proposed the deployment of modern technologies for real-time monitoring and early detection of illegal activities.
They also emphasised the importance of raising public awareness through environmental education campaigns, integrating conservation into school curricula, and enhancing local capacity through training and knowledge sharing. Enhanced inter-agency collaboration was deemed vital to addressing the drivers of forest degradation and biodiversity loss.
The stakeholders committed to leveraging international climate finance and carbon market opportunities, such as through REDD+ and similar initiatives, to support long-term conservation goals and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
They also called for the development and implementation of a comprehensive forest and biodiversity management plan, with clearly defined roles for all actors involved.
A final appeal was made for increased budgetary funding by the government and donor support for forest and biodiversity protection programmes in the state. Stakeholders stressed that Cross River’s forests are vital not only for Nigeria’s environmental future but also for global biodiversity, local livelihoods, and climate resilience.
The resolutions and appeal were officially adopted and signed by representatives of civil society, traditional institutions, and local government authorities, including HRM Fredaline Akandu (Boki LGA), HRM Amb. Anthony Etta (Etung LGA), Dr. Odigha Odigha for civil societies, and eleven others, demonstrating widespread commitment to immediate and ongoing action.
The communique ended with a clear message: safeguarding forests and biodiversity in Cross River State is not just an environmental matter, but a social, economic, and moral duty to both current and future generations.
