In a bid to protect and replenish forest reserves in the state against illegal logging, the Cross River State government, on Wednesday, led an anti-deforestation campaign in selected local governments areas of the central senatorial district of the state in a bid to stop forest depletion.
The campaign, targeted at liaising with host communities to discourage deforestation and recommend the best possible ways to protect forest reserves in the state, saw leaders of the various local government areas attend the exercise in Obubra and Ikom Council Areas.
Speaking during the encounter, Chairman Cross River State Forestry Commission, High Chief Tony Undiandeye notified congregants that the meeting was aimed at getting the various stakeholders in the ward and local government levels find a lasting solution to discourage illegal logging. He appealed to community leaders and farmers to cooperate with forestry officials for intergovernmental cooperation in ensuring that rainforests are protected.
“I have come here on the instructions of our father, His Excellency Senator Prof. Ben Ayade so that all of us can put our heads together and see how we can protect the forests, which is a common heritage with which we are known globally because as we all know, Cross River State constitutes well over 50 percent of the entire rainforest in Nigeria”.
“Tell us what the challenges are, the government is ready to look inwards amongst you the traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders at the ward and chapter levels and implement your recommendations”. Undiandeye said.
Responding shortly after, Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Kingsley Egumi thanked the team for the collaboration which according to him “is a step in the right direction towards protecting illegal timber logging in the state”.
The tour with the local government leaders and traditional rulers began in the council headquarters of Obubra Local Government Area before proceeding to Ikom and had chairmen of the local government areas and their representatives, traditional rulers, forest rangers and other stakeholders at various levels attend the meet.
The exercise ended with the inspection of some nursery trees being nurtured to replenish some species that may have been lost to bush burning, illegal timber logging and other environmental causes.
