Environmentalists urge Cross River Govt to enforce ban on deforestation, illegal mining

The Cross River State government has been called upon to reintroduce and enforce total ban on deforestation and illegal mining in the state.
Environmentalists made the call in Calabar, the state capital, on Monday following series of recorded encroachments and incessant logging by non-state actors, and the influx of foreigners into the state for illegal mining.
Speaking on Sparkling FM, an environmentalist, Umo Isua-Ikoh, said the stance of his colleagues on the ban on deforestation is justified under the climate justice drive.
“You cannot have environmental justice in an environment where people are not environmentally friendly.
“We’ve fought this cause against deforestation for many years. But now the Chinese and others have come to increase it from where others stopped.”
While identifying some of the factors contributing to the depletion of forests, Umo urged the state government to address the issue of youth unemployment, develop a climate sustainability policy direction, and enact and implement policies that are climate-friendly.
“We’re advocating for total ban on deforestation in Cross River forests. Painfully, when they engage in wood logging they dont even care to replace them for future generations.
“There’s urgent need for government to take action to save the forests as lots of other micro-organisms also lost alongside during woodlogging.
“The forests wont be depleted as they are now if our people who live on the forests were gainfully engaged elsewhere.”
In August 2023, the state government lifted the ban placed on logging in the state after 15 years.
In a statement issued on August 10, 2023, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Owan Enoh, announced the dissolution of the anti-deforestation task force on logging.
He added that the state Forestry Commission should be informed of all farming and mining activities in the forest reserves for approval.
“As enshrined in the Cross River State Forestry Law and Regulations 2011, any illegally sawn wood across the state is considered an offense and to face compoundment,” the statement reads.
“Furthermore, prohibition of sawing wood in the forest reserve is still in force.
“All registration of forestry-related activities such as timber permiteeship, non-timber permiteeship, registration of farmers in the forest reserve are to report to the Cross River State Forestry Commission for compliance.
“All ongoing farming/mining in forest reserves are expected to report to the Cross River State Forestry Commission for authentication.
“Members of the public are required to ensure compliance as government sues for cooperation of all. Defaulters of this directive will be prosecuted.”
It would be recalled that in 2008, the administration of former governor Liyel Imoke had imposed a one-year moratorium on logging to allow the state to benefit from Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, REDD+, programme.
Environmentalists urge Cross River Govt to enforce ban on deforestation, illegal mining