By Blessing Enagu, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from CRSFC
Timber dealers in the State have been warned against illegal logging which has caused serious deforestation despite ban on such activities in the State.
Cross River State Forestry Commission Chairman, Chief Tony Undiandeye, who gave the warning during a working visit to timber markets within Calabar Municipality, also sensitized them on the dangers of indescriminate forest exploitation, noting that it destroys trees that act as carbon sinks and climate regulators which play significant role in Climate change mitigation.
The Chairman further stated that the practice also accounts for the reduction of forest cover area, leading to high temperature and extreme weather conditions which affect all and sundry.
Chief Undiandeye tasked the heads of the various markets to welcome and support government’s forest regeneration drive in order to regain the lost forests in the State.
Reacting to their concerns, the Chairman assured that the Commission is working assiduously to ensure that their livelihood is sustained and their businesses regularized to also enable them contribute to the economic development of the State.
The Commission Boss called on the timber dealers as critical partners in the sector to act responsibly by obeying government policy, stop patronising enemies of the State who are bent on destroying our rich forest resources.
Pledging the association’s continous support, the Presidents, Akim, Ikot Uduak, and Ikot Omin Timber Markets, Asuquo Ita, Ebane Ewot and Edet Bassey respectively, expressed appreciation to the Chairman for his leadership style, noting that his visit to their markets would not be taken for granted.
The Market heads separately dissociated the associations from being part of the illegal forest activities in the State, hinting that their businesses have been hijacked by heavily-sponsored field marshals and some government officials who are abusing power and taking advantage of the ban on logging to enrich their pockets at the expense of the Cross River Government.
They also argued that timber dealers are not major drivers of deforestation but farmers who carry out unsustainable agricultural practices of cutting and burning down of the forest for cultivation.
Some members of the association lamented the loss of their livelihood and cried out to government to ameliorate their sufferings by lifting the ban in order for them to carry out their legitimate businesses responsibly.
The Forestry Commission Chairman was accompanied on the working visit by his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Timothy Akwaji and other management staff of the Commission.
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