CSOs Resume Fight Against Massive Deforestation, Illegal Mining in C'River
The Cross River Tropical Rainforest, once hailed as the richest cover in West Africa, has suffered extensive degradation over the past decades, with Nigeria losing an estimated 400,000 hectares of forest annually. Recent data indicates that Cross River State has been particularly hard-hit, losing significant portions of its forest cover to illegal logging, unsustainable agricultural practices, urban expansion, and infrastructure development.
In its Policy Brief launched under the MoCCSA (Mobilising CSOs and Citizens for Social Accountability) project implemented by Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE) in partnership with Nigeria Situation Room with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), highlights the extent of the deforestation crisis in Cross River State. Between 1991 and 2008, the state witnessed a substantial decline in its forest cover, with an estimated loss of over 2,800 square kilometers, signaling a dire situation that demands urgent action.
"The consequences of massive deforestation are manifold, affecting the environment, local communities, and the economy. Loss of critical habitats for endangered species, decreased biodiversity, heightened risk of floods and landslides, and reduced availability of forest products have all been cited as major concerns. Additionally, the rise of illegal mining activities in forest reserved zones, including the Cross River National Park, further exacerbates the environmental degradation and threatens the rights and safety of forest-dependent communities." The statement reads in parts.
The document by GREENCODE issued call to action, urging government and policymakers to enforce existing laws and regulations on forest protection, develop sustainable land-use policies, and support community-based forest management initiatives. They emphasize the need for collaboration between government, industry, civil society, and local communities to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and shared decision-making in natural resource management.
Speaking during the closeout meeting of the projects where 5 policy briefs on different sectors of the society were launched, Comrade Edem Edem, National Coordinator of Green Concern for Development GREENCODE, informed that the project aimed at empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) and citizens to actively engage in governance and hold the government accountable. Through advocacy visits and capacity-building initiatives, adding that the project focused on promoting social accountability by equipping CSOs with advocacy skills and tools to facilitate citizen participation in policy discussions and ensure government responsiveness to the needs of grassroots communities.
Edem noted that the project was closing with the launch of the 2023 4th quarter budget performance report, a Citizen's Budget (a simplified version of the 2024 budget, and five policy briefs Water and Sanitation, Waste Management and Environment, Peace Building and Conflict Management, Fiscal Accountability and Open Government, Forest Degradation and Illegal Mining. Adding that these documents Which will be distributed to relevant stakeholders and the public in general is to both trigger the citizens to hold government accountable and trigger actions from government to solve citizens problems.
These documents according to Edem, can be downloaded from the organisation's website at www.greencodeng.org
The fight against deforestation and illegal mining is a collective endeavor that requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders. By heeding the call to action and working together, stakeholders can halt and reverse the destructive trends, safeguarding the invaluable forests of Cross River State for future generations.
My name is Patrick ajaka.,i will like work with the government of cross river state as a volunteer stop the Deforestation I give you the best . for ten years with Peter jeckes. I know how to go about it. And push buning
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