By Blessing Enagu
The Cross River State Forestry Commission and the Cross River National Park have renewed a long standing relationship in order to drive a robust forest conservation programme in the State.
This partnership was reviewed recently in Calabar, when the new Conservator of the Cross River National Park , CP Zanna Lawan and his team paid a courtesy visit on the Forestry Commission Chairman.
Welcoming the team, the FC Chairman, Chief Tony Undiandeye expressed optimism that working together as agents of government with the common goal of conserving the forests and its rich resources will yield optimal result which will be beneficial to the country and the larger international community.
Chief Undiandeye, who appreciated the Park for their resolve to collaborate with the Commission, expressed readiness for the collaboration and assured of a rewarding relationship.
The Chairman backed his words by instantly delegating four technocrats from the Commission to closely work with the team and map out strategies that will engender sustainable management of the Forests.
Also speaking, the most senior Director of the Commission, Dr. Ekpenyong Ita emphasized the need for team work, noting that it is difficult to ‘clap with one hand.’
He encouraged the Park to take advantage of the State Forestry Commission which, according to him, has the best crop of Foresters in Nigeria.
The Director, Conservation, Protection and Compliance, Mr. Frank Edu drew their attention to the devastation going on in the corridors of the Park and called for Swift action to forestall the looming dangers gazing at the forest.
In her remarks, the Sustainable Fuel Wood Management Project’s Focal person, Dr. Edu Effiom, copiously traced many years of relationship between the Park and the Commission, recounting the benefits that accrued from that relationship, adding that reviving it will birth greater opportunities and achievements.
Speaking earlier, the Conservator of Cross River National Park, CP Zanna Lawan stated that his visit was to familiarize with the management of the Commission.
He appreciated the support gotten from the Commission over time, with the most recent being an intervention on a misunderstanding between the Park and one of its host communities.
CP Lawan solicited for greater synergy and improved collaboration for effective protection of the forests and its resources.
He disclosed that some Non Governmental Organizations were set to assist on Forest Conservation and that recently, the Oban and Okwangwo areas have been designated as United Nations Man and Biosphere Reserve, all which promises great benefits to the State especially the host communities.
On the devastation in the corridors of the Park, the CP intimated that a Committee has been constituted to ascertain the level of encroachment in terms of farming, logging and human settlement, after which a well informed action will be taken.
Maintaining that his administration will not relent on its mandate, the Conservator of Park pledged his readiness to work assiduously with the Commission and other relevant stakeholders for a better result.
The Deputy Conservator of Park, George Karngong noted that Cross River is very Strategic in terms of forest resources, adding that the Cross River National Park is one of the 25 highly endowed forest in the world. He also informed that in a recent research on Amphibians, it was discovered that there are some frogs and other Amphibians that are only unique to Cross River, which lends credence to how rich in biodiversity the State is.
DCP Karngong called on all parties to rise above challenges as technocrats and collectively conserve the forests.
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