Cross River State poised to manage her Forest resources

Kebeh Eteng
Coneri Magazine !  Calabar


Cross River State Government Poised to Sustainably manage the Forest resources.
The Deputy Governor Professor Ivara Ejemot Esu says, the Senator Ben Ayade led Administration is poised to sustainably manage the forest resources to continue to yield environmental goods and services in perpetuity.

Professor Esu stated this while declaring open a Two day Stakeholders Validation Meeting for the Cross River State Forest Policy holding in Transcorp Hotel,Calabar.
The Deputy Governor noted that, the validation of the first ever produced Forest Policy in the state is very dear to the Government and people of the state, adding that, posterity will not forgive us if we fail to put in place guiding strategies as contained in the draft forest policy for the wise management of the renewable valuable resources.
He explain that, opportunities abound for investment in the forest sector with available land for afforestation and forest regeneration programs within our degraded forest resources and community forest.


The Deputy Governor expressed deep appreciation to the Cross River State Forest Commission and the State Sustainable Fuel wood Management Project for their efforts towards the drafting and finalization of the forest policy, which is near realization in today's validation workshop.
He urged participants at the meeting to give their best in the review, so as to come out with a successful validation of first ever State Forest Policy.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the State Forestry Commission, Mr Timothy Ogbang Akwaji intimated that, the Stakeholders Meeting is to take a holistic look at a draft document and validate it so that, it can help consolidate the growth of the Forestry Sector.
He remarked that, Cross River is a nature's gift to Nigeria, Africa and the World; and is the most biologically diversified state within the committee of states in Nigeria.
Mr Akwaji said over 50℅ of the last remaining Rain Forest in Nigeria is domiciled in Cross River.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out that, the moratorium policy has led to wanton destruction of the forest than before the policy was put in place and called on Government to take a second look on the policy with a view to returning Forest Management to the Forestry Commission which has the ability to sustainably manage the Cross River State Forest.
Goodwill messages were presented by various Stakeholders and Forest Experts within and outside the state.

The two day meeting will be climaxed with validation for the draft Cross River State Policy and discussion on the next steps in forest policy implementation in the state.