KEY POINTS
- Environmentalists demand strict enforcement of Cross River’s deforestation ban.
- The practice of illegal logging and mining damages biodiversity along with local ecosystems.
- Environmental advocates demand both sustainable policy initiatives and reforestation program implementation.
Environmentalists in Cross River State are urging the state government to reinstate and enforce a total ban on deforestation and illegal mining, which they argue are endangering the environment and threatening the state’s ecological balance.
During a discussion on Sparkling FM in Calabar, environmentalist Umo Isua-Ikoh emphasized that without environmental justice, sustainable development remains unattainable.
Isua-Ikoh and other advocates expressed concern over the alarming rate of deforestation and the influx of foreign entities engaging in illegal mining within the state.
He stated, “We’ve fought against deforestation for years, but the situation has worsened with new players, including foreign nationals, exploiting our forests.”
The state lifted its long-standing ban on logging in 2023, a decision that environmentalists believe has exacerbated the destruction of the forests.
They are now urging the government to address underlying issues, including youth unemployment and the need for climate-friendly policies, to reduce dependence on forest exploitation.
A growing threat to forests and local livelihoods
Illegal logging and mining in Cross River State produce substantial deforestation that threatens biodiversity and destroys local ecological systems.
Isua-Ikoh identified the necessity for a broad approach that combines improved policy execution with diverse economic alternatives for communities whose income depends on forest resources.
“The forests are being depleted at an alarming rate. Logging activities not only destroy trees but also harm the microorganisms vital to our ecosystem,” he said. “If our communities had alternative means of income, they wouldn’t have to rely so heavily on exploiting the forests.”
Cross River State annihilated its anti-deforestation task force while simultaneously erasing the established 15-year logging ban in August 2023.
All forest-related activities within Cross River State require authorization from the Cross River State Forestry Commission through permits while operating under state forestry regulations. Environmentalists criticize the failure of current enforcement efforts although preventive actions have been implemented.
Calls for sustainable policies and action
Environmental activists urge the government to reinstate stronger restrictions against deforestation and illegal mining because environmental protection requires top priority.
According to the Daily Post, they also emphasize the importance of policies that balance environmental conservation with economic development.
Former measures, such as the one-year moratorium on logging imposed in 2008 under the administration of Liyel Imoke, were aimed at allowing the state to benefit from the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program.
Similar approaches could both protect forest areas in Cross River and create economic reward systems for environmental preservation efforts.
“We need a proactive government that will not only enforce bans but also invest in reforestation and sustainable development,” Isua-Ikoh said. “This is about preserving our natural heritage for future generations.”
