Stakeholders in the environment and conservation sector have intensified calls for the urgent amendment of the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010, warning that the state risks permanently losing one of Nigeria’s most valuable ecological assets if decisive action is not taken
By Victoria Omini.
At a media briefing held on February 25, 2026, The coalition, comprising We The People (WTP), PADIC Africa, Uyo Iban, NGO Coalition for Environment, the Nelson Ofem Initiative, Onyx Foundation Africa, Policy Alert, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Biodiversity Rescue Club, among others, formally presented a report titled “Recommended Reviews of the Cross River State Forestry Law, 2010.” The report followed six months of consultations involving community representatives, academics, legal experts, conservationists, and policy stakeholders.
A Forest Under Threat
Cross River State is home to Nigeria’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest ecosystem and forms part of the remaining Lower Guinean rainforest belt in West Africa. The forests provide habitat for endangered species, regulate climate systems, protect watersheds, and sustain thousands of forest-dependent communities.
However, stakeholders revealed that the state has lost over 60 percent of its original forest cover. Once-dense rainforest landscapes have reportedly been degraded into grasslands and farmlands due to illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
“Thousands of logs are extracted daily, both legally and illegally,” the report noted, stressing that the crisis is environmental, economic, and generational.
Why the Law Must Evolve
The Forestry Law, enacted in 2010, was described as progressive at the time. However, presenters argued that the realities of 2026 including intensified climate change, Nigeria’s evolving emissions reduction commitments, and increasingly organized forest crimes have rendered aspects of the law outdated.
They emphasized that forest governance must now align with global climate commitments and emerging carbon financing opportunities. International climate funding, estimated at $1.46 trillion in 2022, largely targets forest-based climate solutions. Stakeholders said a revised law could position Cross River State to access and effectively manage such resources.
Key Reform Areas
The policy brief outlines five major reform priorities:
Climate Alignment: Incorporating mitigation and adaptation strategies, promoting afforestation and reforestation, and recognizing forests as climate assets capable of generating carbon finance benefits.
Stronger Sanctions: Reviewing weak penalties—such as the N200,000 fine for seized trucks involved in forest crimes—and instituting proportionate sanctions, improved monitoring, and better inter-agency coordination.
Institutional Reforms: Clarifying mandates, strengthening oversight, enhancing transparency in licensing processes, and including communities, academia, and civil society in governance.
Ecotourism Development: Embedding ecotourism principles into forest governance to create jobs and generate revenue while incentivizing conservation.
Community Inclusion: Legally backing community participation, co-management arrangements, recognition of traditional knowledge, and community-based monitoring systems.
Media Urged to Deepen Engagement
Speaking at the briefing, Dr. Odigha Odigha, former Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, underscored the importance of sustained law reform and active media involvement.
Dr. Odigha disclosed that ongoing efforts include initiatives such as magnetic indexing and other technical measures aimed at strengthening forest monitoring, alongside community-focused programmes and the promotion of alternative, nature-based sustainable livelihood options.
He expressed appreciation for the presence of journalists but urged the media to go beyond routine coverage.
“We should go beyond just getting fresh ratings or clips,” he said. “If we are to move forward, we must demand accountability from those in government who are entrusted with stewardship of the environment.”
He stressed that environmental protection should remain central to governance, noting that failure to prioritize it undermines humanity and future generations. He called for structured environmental education for media practitioners to empower them to ask critical and informed questions of those in power.
“Cross River State is a biodiversity hotspot. Yet much of what we once had has been lost. At this point, timber exploitation cannot be our primary revenue focus. This is the only significant forest left in Nigeria,” he stated.
Dr. Odigha further emphasized that legal reform is a continuous process. “There is no law that is final. Review is constant. If new measures emerge, we return to the legislative process. No one should say the law is sufficient it is not.”
He cautioned against dismissing recommendations simply because they originate from civil society, describing such attitudes as unfortunate. According to him, constructive criticism regardless of its source strengthens governance.
“You should be part and parcel of this process. Civil society alone cannot do it. We are limited in reaching the masses. The media must help inform and mobilize the public on issues that affect our collective future,” he added.
A Decisive Moment
Presenters described the situation as a turning point for Cross River State. With more than half of its forest cover already lost, they warned that incremental reforms would be insufficient.
“Reforming the Forestry Law is not merely about protecting trees. It is about protecting biodiversity, livelihoods, climate stability, and the economic future of Cross River State,” the stakeholders said.
They urged lawmakers, government agencies, and the wider public to engage constructively with the policy brief and prioritize legislative action.
“The future of our forests and indeed our collective future depends on the decisions we make today,” the statement concluded.
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