Calabar –Environmental experts and civil society organisations have called for tougher penalties against illegal logging in Cross River State, warning that the current N200,000 fine stipulated in the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010 has become too lenient to deter forest crimes NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The call was made recently during a media briefing in Calabar where stakeholders presented a policy report titled “Recommended Reviews of the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010.”
Presenters at the briefing argued that the penalty for forest offences, particularly illegal logging, is grossly inadequate compared to the profits made by offenders, thereby encouraging continued exploitation of forest resources.
According to the report, when a truck used for illegal logging is seized, the current law imposes a fine of only N200,000 — an amount experts say many illegal loggers are willing to pay as part of the cost of doing business.
Stakeholders warned that such weak sanctions have contributed to widespread illegal logging activities, which continue to accelerate the destruction of forests in Cross River state.
The state, which hosts Nigeria’s largest remaining tropical rainforest ecosystem within the Lower Guinean forest belt of West Africa, has already lost more than 60 percent of its original forest cover due to logging, agricultural expansion, wildlife hunting, and weak enforcement of conservation laws.
Participants at the briefing stressed that unless the penalties in the forestry law are significantly strengthened, enforcement efforts by government agencies will remain ineffective.
They recommended the introduction of stronger and more proportionate sanctions that reflect the economic scale and environmental impact of forest crimes. The proposed reforms also call for improved monitoring systems and stronger coordination among enforcement agencies responsible for forest protection.
“Without credible deterrence, forest protection efforts will remain ineffective,” the report stated.
Beyond sanctions, the policy brief proposed a comprehensive review of the forestry law to address emerging environmental and economic realities. These include aligning forest governance with climate change commitments, strengthening institutional oversight, promoting ecotourism opportunities, and ensuring the participation of indigenous and forest-dependent communities in forest management.
The report noted that forests play a crucial role in regulating climate systems, protecting watersheds, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining the livelihoods of rural communities.
Experts warned that continued deforestation could undermine the ecological and economic future of the state if urgent legislative reforms are not undertaken.
They therefore urged the Cross River State Government and the tenth State House of Assembly to prioritize the amendment of the forestry law in order to strengthen conservation efforts and secure the long-term sustainability of the state’s forest resources.
The stakeholders expressed hope that the report would stimulate policy discussions and legislative action aimed at modernizing the state’s forest governance framework.
The policy brief, they added, represents the outcome of a six-month consultation process involving civil society organisations, academics, conservationists, lawyers, community representatives and legislative experts.
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
