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By Akpan David, Calabar
Fourteen communitiies of Cross River State have decried the alarming and high rate plundering of their forests by unauthorized persons and groups.
They said wanton destruction of their forests has led to complete social breakdown, insecurity on the part of the traditional rulers.
According to them, plundering of their forests has resulted also to intra and inter communal conflicts, income loss, resource leakages, social exclusion, apathy and anarchy.
The communities include Iko-Esai, Iko-Ekperem, Owai, Ifumkpa, Agoi Ekpo, Agoi Ibami, Iyamitate and Old Ekuri.
Others are New Ekuri, Okokori Edondon, Etara, Eyeyen and Okuni.
They made this known today when EKIAO Forest Conservation Initiative held a one-day workshop on Understanding communiy perspective of the Cross River State Forestey Law (2010), and community seesitisation on need for sustainable natural resource management and held in Ifumkpa community, Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State.
They said they were disappointed over the ineffectiveness of government and inability t police the Cross River State Forest estate.
They also frowned at ineffective moratorium on logging which should have been a government measure for effective forest monitoring and management.
In a communique signed by their spokesman and traditional chieftain, HRH Ata-Obot Obio Arong Owai, Clan Head Esai Clan and Chairman EKIAO Chiefs Coordinating council alongside the coordinator, DSP Godwin Esara (rtd), they called for review of the moratoriumon logging.
They stressed that such will put in place a workable plan and action for sustainable forest management in the State.
“Government should adequately integrate the communities in the management of the forest in line with the provisions of the Cross River State forestry policy.
“There should be provision of meaningful incentives for communities and groups supporting sustainable forest management, through sustainable livelihood options, and introduction of agroforestry practices.”
“We the 14 communities around the Ekuri-Iko and okpon forest bloc call for aggressive reforestation and afforestation targeting most threatened indigenous tree species.
“We want government and development partners to urgently address the problem of forest loss, review and lift the moratorium.
“We want to improve land governance, forest management including possible land and forest related conflicts within our jurisdiction. We need a friendly, responsive, and inclusive system to support, strengthen, and reward our efforts.”
