The Cross River State Forestry Commission has been described as a shadow of itself NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
This disclosure was made last week during the Second One-Day Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation in Cross River State which held in Calabar the state capital metropolis.
The consultative meeting in Calabar assessed the level of forest protection in the state, examined actions and proposals that could impact the forests.
According to stakeholders present at the conference, it was agreed that the State Forestry Commission has been inefficient and incompetent in the management of the forest in the state.
The stakeholders observed that the Commission which is responsible for the forests superintended over illegal logging activities against the fortunes of the state. It noted that a testament to the failure of the Forestry Commission was the moratorium and taskforce imposed on the forest management.
A portion of the communique reads, ‘While the meeting agreed with the assertion that the government has the responsibility of checking illegal logging, it is agreed that the solution lies in changing the forest management framework in the state, since the Forest Commission is only a shadow of itself for the purpose of reintroducing government sanctioned logging activities.
‘The state Forestry Commission has over time proven inefficient and incompetent in the management of the forest. During the period when the Commission was responsible for the forests, there was profound and incessant illegal logging activities.
‘Indeed, it was for reason of the failure of the Forestry Commission that a moratorium and a task force was necessary in the first place.’
The session stressed that urgent action is therefore needed to preserve what remains of Cross River’s forests and empower communities to play a key role in their protection and restoration.
Stakeholders present at the event were polled from community persons, traditional rulers, concerned persons, civil society organisations, media, representatives of MDAs and gathered together at the Kolanut Event Centre, Calabar, Cross River state.
EDITORIAL
This story amongst others are reviewed on Sparkling 92.3FM and FAD 93.1FM. Again, opinions expressed on NegroidHaven are exclusively the author’s not NH’s.
