DEFORESTATION: Stakeholders blame politicians as logging, illegal mining deepens in Cross River

 

© WWF / André BÄRTSCHI

 Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar

Stakeholders drawn from civil society, academia, local communities, and government agencies have raised the alarm over the deepening crisis of deforestation in Cross River State, warning that unless urgent steps are taken, the state’s once celebrated rainforest could be lost to unchecked logging and illegal mining.

This concern formed the core of discussions at the 3rd Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation held at the weekend in Calabar.

The one-day conference, with the theme: “Deforestation: Current Realities, Emerging Threats, and Building Resilience,” was organised by We the People (WTP), a civil society organisation advocating social and environmental justice.

With over 130 participants in attendance, the event served as a platform for in-depth deliberations on policy failures, legal gaps, and the exclusion of indigenous communities in efforts to protect the state’s forest reserves.

Key issues raised included the lack of accurate data on forest loss, the proliferation of uncoordinated government agencies, poor funding of regulatory bodies, and minimal political will to enforce existing forestry laws.

Stakeholders also condemned the sidelining of local communities in decision-making processes, illegal logging, weak penalties for environmental crimes, and what they described as the “covert involvement of politicians” in activities that further endanger forest ecosystems.

“We have a situation where the very agencies meant to protect the forest are underfunded and ill-equipped. Field staff operate without uniforms or support. Meanwhile, the communities most affected by deforestation are excluded from the process of finding solutions,” a participant noted during the plenary session.

The conference also featured the review of a mining impact report presented by WTP, which detailed the growing nexus between extractive activities and forest degradation in the state. Discussions highlighted how mining operations, often conducted without adequate environmental assessments or proper licensing, have exacerbated the destruction of biodiversity-rich areas.

In a communiqué issued at the close of the conference, participants outlined key action points to tackle the crisis.

These include calls to integrate traditional knowledge systems into forest conservation efforts, increase fines and penalties for illegal logging and other environmental crimes, ensure host communities receive royalties and basic amenities as incentives for protecting the forest, and review the Cross River State Forestry Commission Law of 2010 to reflect emerging threats such as climate change and illegal mining.

Other recommendations include providing protection for community leaders engaged in forest defence, enhancing licensing frameworks and reliable data systems, and integrating communities into planning, enforcement, and decision-making processes.

The stakeholders also urged the state government to build stronger collaborations with NGOs, the media, and other forest protection partners to improve public awareness and institutional accountability.

The conference emphasized that protecting Cross River’s remaining forests, considered among Nigeria’s richest in biodiversity, requires not only stronger laws and political will but also the full involvement and empowerment of the communities that depend on them.

Participants also urged the state government to diversify its revenue sources to reduce over-reliance on the forest sector, while advocating the development of a long-term plan that centres on sustainability, education, and inter-agency cooperation.

“The future of our forests cannot be left to chance or political rhetoric. We need enforceable laws, empowered communities, and the political will to act now more than ever,” the communiqué said.

THE GUARDIAN

 

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