By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) says it has trained no fewer than 2,800 farmers and women in Cross River, on sustainable agriculture.
Dr Joseph Onoja, Director General of the NCF, disclosed this at the end of a Project workshop in Calabar on Wednesday.
Onoja said that the beneficiaries cutting across eight communities in the state comprise of 2,400 farmers and 400 women trained in non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) value chain and green enterprises
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communities, including Iko Esai, are located in the Akamkpa and Yakurr Local Government Areas in the state.
He said that the project with the theme ”Community Forest Management and Livelihood Improvement In The Buffer Region of the Cross River National Park In Nigeria”, also saw the restoration of 120 hectares of degraded forest.
He explained that the intervention was aimed at re-establishing community-based mechanisms for forest conservation, utilisation, as well as promoting sustainable high-yield agricultural practices.
Onoja also explained that the project, which began in 2022, was initiated to build the capacity of NTFPs traders with a view to enhancing their income, and sensitising local people on sustainable forest use and management.
The foundation boss said that the project, funded by the German government, also saw the establishment of forest governance in the communities.
According to him, we were able to work with eight communities for sustainable forest management, and this has led to the creation of sustainable alternative livelihoods.
“The objective is to empower these people to be able to protect their communities.
“As we all know, Cross River holds one of the enviable largest forest expanse in Nigeria and there is need for all to come together to protect these forests, not just for the state, but for Nigeria and even the West African sub-region.”
Also speaking, Mr George Oben-Etche, Chairman, Cross River Forest Commission, urged communities in the state to take ownership of their forests.
Oben-Etche said that the only way to stop deforestation was to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the host communities.
Similarly, Mrs Christabel Ndubisi, Vice President, Calabar Chambers of Commerce, commended NCF for providing alternative livelihoods for the communities.
Ndubisi promised to link the communities up with market for their products.
In the same vein, Mr Johnson Ebokpo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, called for the adoption of traceability to save the forest.
Ebokpo represented by Mr Omini Eyong, Director of Crops and Trees in the ministry, said that invasion of forest was largely responsible for climate change.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise saving the forest for a better and healthier living.
“When you maintain the planet, the planet will in turn maintain you. When the environment is safe, the world will be saved,” he said.
Also, Joseph Ntui, of the Cross River National Park, said that sustainable management of the forest would make it available for the next generation.
(NAN)