Environmental group petitions FG to protect Cross River’s rainforests

Rainforest Rescue, an organisation dedicated to rainforest conservation, has petitioned the federal government to save forests in Cross River.

The group, in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari; Mahmood Abubakar, minister of environment; Abubakar Malami, minister of justice, and Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, requested that immediate action be taken to stop illegal felling of trees in Cross River.

According to the petition, published in different languages — including French, Spanish and German — the continued felling of trees in Nigeria’s forests is limiting the country’s efforts towards meeting its commitment on climate change.

As of Tuesday, the petition has been acknowledged by over 85,000 supporters globally.

“The widespread and destructive logging in Ekuri and other community forests – in particular the wholesale felling of fruit and medicinal trees for timber – have impoverished indigenous people and impacted their health and well-being,” the petition reads.

“This aggravation of poverty among the affected indigenous people in forest communities contradicts the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 1 – no poverty; 2 – zero hunger, and 3 – good health and well-being.

“We kindly request you to please support: the protection of Cross River State’s highly biodiverse forests, the fight against illegal logging and environmental destruction, the thriving of community forestry the regeneration of degraded areas to restore lost forests.”

Speaking on the petition, Odey Oyama, executive director of Rainforest Resources and Development Centre, urged the federal and state governments to take immediate action against illegal felling of trees in Cross River.