Dr Nnimmo Bassey, the keynote speaker, delved into the historical roots of deforestation, exposing the exploitative tactics employed during colonial times.
By TheInvestigator
The ecological catastrophe unfolding in Cross River, home to West Africa’s largest remaining pristine rainforest, has reached alarming proportions. Experts and activists warn that without immediate and decisive intervention, these vital rainforests could vanish entirely within a few decades.
This urgent message resonated at a recent multi-stakeholder conference on deforestation held in Calabar, organized by We The People – Center for Social Studies and Development. For the past three years, this annual event has been centered around the theme “Deforestation: Current Realities, Emerging Threats, and Building Resilience.”
During the conference, Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We The People, expressed deep concern over the rapid degradation of Cross River’s rainforest, a treasure once preserved by proactive local communities. Henshaw attributed this crisis to a toxic mix of misguided government policies, external exploitation, and critical regulatory failures.
Since 2001, more than 134,000 hectares of forest cover have been lost, marking one of the highest deforestation rates globally. Despite hosting nearly half of Nigeria’s remaining forests and serving as a sanctuary for endangered species—including gorillas and forest elephants—illegal logging and weak enforcement mechanisms have wreaked havoc on this precious ecosystem.
Henshaw pointed to a devastating 2008 government ban on forest activities, designed to protect the rainforest but ultimately leading to catastrophe. Communities were deprived of their traditional steward role, and external loggers flooded the area, accelerating the destruction rather than curbing it. Promised benefits from international carbon credit schemes failed to materialize, leaving local people vulnerable while illegal timber businesses thrived, with profits siphoned off to outsiders.
“Communities have long been the guardians of our forests, but government actions have unleashed their destruction,” Henshaw stated. “In 2008, a sweeping ban on forest activities stripped communities of their rights, banning them from sustainable farming practices. A misguided attempt to fight deforestation opened the floodgates to exploitation. Rather than slowing deforestation, this ban set the stage for an unprecedented loss of biodiversity.”
The consequences of this reckless policy are evident. Henshaw cites the occurrence of recent windstorms in Calabar, rising environmental temperatures, a decline in biodiversity, and deteriorating community livelihoods, all direct fallout from rampant deforestation.
Dr Nnimmo Bassey, the keynote speaker, delved into the historical roots of deforestation, exposing the exploitative tactics employed during colonial times. He remarked, “Colonial forces labeled certain forests as ‘evil,’ seeking to dismantle our cultural identity and destroy biodiversity hotspots critical to our communities.”
“Identifying these culturally significant forests as evil was a strategic move to erase indigenous practices and lay the groundwork for exploitation,” he added.
Also sharing insights during the conference, Obol Abel Egbe, the clan head of New Ekuri in Akamkpa, discussed how his community has proactively imposed traditional injunctions to protect their forest from illegal loggers. He expressed gratitude to We The People for their ongoing efforts to raise awareness about deforestation, stating that it has empowered his community to stand firm against external threats.
The conference featured enlightening presentations into the emerging dynamics of mining and deforestation, strategies to build global alliances to combat these issues, and discussions on legislative improvements in forest management. Various sessions focused on community-driven approaches to forest protection and wildlife preservation, highlighting the importance of collaboration and action.
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