In order to combat crime, deforestation, and encourage reforestation, civil society organisations and pertinent forestry sector stakeholders have demanded that the Cross River Forestry Commission Laws be reviewed.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of "We The People," emphasised the need of modernising the State forestry law while pointing out that forest management and conservation are crucial for international economic prospects.


He emphasised that if a truck is taken during a forest crime, the punishment is minimal, which criminals or illegal loggers can pay and go on committing the crime. He pointed out that the current law permits penalties that could serve as incentives for crimes to continue.

“Illegal logging and wildlife trafficking continue to undermine conservation efforts. Weak penalties and enforcement gaps have allowed these activities to persist. The current law allows for penalties that could act as incentives for forest crimes to continue. For instance, if a truck is seized during the commission of a forest crime, the penalty is a meagre N200,000, a sum most illegal loggers will gladly pay and continue their crime,” he added.

In accordance with the need to strengthen sanctions and deterrence, he recommended stronger and more proportionate sanctions in line with the gravity of the crimes, improved monitoring systems, and better coordination among enforcement agencies.

Cross River has a lot of potential for ecotourism, Henshaw said, adding that the area's biodiversity and landscapes can produce income, jobs, and incentives for conservation.

He bemoaned how the state's forest potential has been undermined by decreasing forest cover, insecurity associated with illicit activities, and a lack of frameworks and purpose. He emphasised that the new forestry law should incorporate ecotourism principles into forest governance, offer legal support for conservation-based businesses, and promote public-private partnerships.

"We are safeguarding economic prospects for current and future generations by preserving forests. He clarified, "We advocate for community-based monitoring systems, acknowledgement of traditional knowledge systems, and community involvement in forest governance."

Reputable environmental expert and Chairman of the NGO Coalition for Environment, Odigha Odigha, noted that Cross River has lost more than 60% of its original forest cover and emphasised that Nigeria's most valuable ecological assets could be lost if immediate reforms are not implemented.

Nigeria's largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest habitat is found in Cross River. More than 60% of Cross River's natural forest cover has been gone. Degraded soils and meadows have replaced vast tracts of once-dense rainforest. We run the risk of permanently losing one of Nigeria's most precious ecological resources if immediate reforms are not implemented," he emphasised.