George Oben-Etchi, chairman of Cross River Forestry Commission, said the present administration in Cross River was highly committed to afforestation.

He said this on Saturday in Calabar during a sensitisation programme on the adverse effect of unsustainable forest activities in Cross River.

The theme of the programme was: “The Crisis of Forest Loss and Threats to Rural Economy in Cross River”.

Mr Oben-Etchi said the last time trees were consciously planted in the state as a government policy to revive the forests was in 2003, adding that in collaboration with some non-governmental organisations, (NGOs), the state planned to plant five million trees annually.

He noted that the state government had introduced the “permittees” system to regulate logging in the state and also employed 300 rangers to help police its forests.

The director-general, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, (NCF), Joseph Onoja, also said that only four per cent of the nation’s forest cover is remaining.

Mr Onoja, who was represented by Mohammed Boye, coordinator of the northern zone in NCF, said it had become expedient to sensitise forest holding communities in Cross River on sustainable ways of interacting with the forest to prevent deforestation.

According to him, in 2024, the foundation plans to train farmers in sustainable farming, a kind of farming that will not impact the environment negatively.

“The way people are harvesting resources in our forests including trees is something that we need to sit down, strategise and find a way for these activities to be done sustainably.

“While I recognise that the forest is a source of livelihood for many, we must also understand that it plays a very significant role in protecting the world against climate change,” he said.

He added that though he was a little disappointed that a lot of resources had been invested by NCF and its partners in the fight to save the forests and the situation had not changed much, NCF was still determined to educate and change the orientation of people.

On her part, CP Caroline Olori, conservator, Cross River National Park, appealed to indigenes of forest communities to own the forests and protect them against degradation.

She, however, appealed to NCF and the government of Cross River to involve more of the youth in the plan to restore the forest, adding that they were the major culprits of the deforestation activities in the communities.

His Royal Highness, Obhoro Obio Arong Owai, Clan Head of Esai Clan in Iko Esai, Akamkpa Local Government Area, said powerful illegal loggers enter the forests in their community without permission from them.

He added that they were willing to work with the state government to ensure that only licensed loggers were allowed to log sustainably in their community.

He also appealed that royalties due to forest communities be paid as and when due.

(NAN)