CALABAR — Cross River State could position itself to access an estimated $1.46 trillion in global climate finance if it urgently reforms its Forestry Law, civil society organisations said on Wednesday NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The groups made the assertion during a media briefing in Calabar where they presented a policy report titled “Recommended Reviews of the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010.” The report followed six months of consultations involving community representatives, academics, conservationists, lawyers and legislative experts.
According to the stakeholders, international climate funding in 2022 was estimated at approximately $1.46 trillion, largely directed at countries and subnational governments implementing forest-based solutions to climate change.
They argued that forests are no longer viewed solely as conservation assets but as climate and economic assets capable of attracting carbon finance, supporting emissions reduction commitments and driving sustainable development.
“Cross River state is home to Nigeria’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest ecosystem. If properly governed, these forests can become a strategic economic resource in the global carbon economy,” the presenters stated.
The report recommends that the revised Forestry Law explicitly incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, promote large-scale afforestation and reforestation, and legally recognise the role of forests in carbon sequestration.
Stakeholders said aligning the state’s forest governance framework with Nigeria’s national and international climate commitments would improve its eligibility for global funding streams tied to emissions reduction and forest restoration.
They maintained that without modern legal backing, the state risks missing out on significant climate-linked financial opportunities that could support infrastructure, community development and conservation programmes.
Beyond climate finance, the report also calls for stronger penalties for illegal logging and wildlife trafficking, clearer institutional mandates and improved transparency in forest licensing processes. It further advocates for the inclusion of indigenous and forest-dependent communities in decision-making and benefit-sharing arrangements.
Presenters warned that more than 60 per cent of Cross River’s original forest cover has already been lost, describing the situation as both an environmental and economic crisis.
“Forest conservation must be understood as an economic opportunity aligned with global climate goals,” the group said, adding that reforming the law would help the state systematically access and manage climate-related resources.
They urged the Cross River State Government (CRSG) and the House of Assembly to commence legislative review processes, stressing that comprehensive reform is necessary to secure the state’s environmental sustainability and economic future.
The stakeholders said the policy brief marks the beginning of sustained engagement with policymakers and development partners aimed at modernising forest governance and unlocking climate-driven economic opportunities.
The following organisations participated in this process and endorsed the recommendations contained in the report:
-We the People
-Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-Africa)
-Biodiversity Rescue Club
-Association of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria
-Peace Point Development Foundation- PPDF
-Cross River State Civil Society Network
-The Rights Academy
-Onyx Community and Development Foundation
-The Nigerian Conservation Foundation
-Green Planet Initiative International (GPII)
-Centre For Rights, Advocacy and Popular Participation (CRAPP)
-P4SEDI
-Uyo Iban Amplifier Initiative (UIAI)
-Boki Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (BBC Foundation)
-Policy Alert
-The Conservation Association of the Mbe Mountains
-NGO Coalition for Environment
-RECLAIM
-Biakwan Light Green Initiative
