Forest Policies & Governance in Cross River
State (CRS), NigeriaPresented at
Oslo Governance Forum, Norway
ByOdigha odigha
Chairman CRS Forestry Commission
3-5 October. 2011
Nigeria: our forest , our biodiversity
• Nigeria has unique forests with endemic species found nowhere else on earth
• One of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world
Cross River State
The “Gulf of Guinea” forests which start east of CR are a global biodiversity hotspot
50% of Nigeria’s remaining forest
over 1100 butterfly species in CR
National Park
75% of Nigeria’s endangered tree species
Community forestry in CRS
• 34,000 hectare of community forest conserved in Ekuri
• ODA/DFID - the formation of Forest Management Committees
How we have responded
•Stakeholders Summit for the Environment in June 2008
•Two year logging moratorium in place
•Established and supported the anti-logging task force
2009- Engagement in REDD+
community engagement and enhancement of local livelihoods key REDD drivers.
Our political Will: CRS:- Bold Reforms & climate change policy
FOREST NURSERY – OBAN Forest nursery, Ranch Resort sub-charge, Obanliku
Polcy reform to manage for carbon concessionPolicy reform to manage for carbon concession
COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FORESTRY COMMISSION
POLITICAL WILL
2008-katoomba:
Follow-up• Made contact with UN-REDD,
WB-FCPF and Governor’s Climate and Forest Task Force (GCF)
2009 Governor of CRS Formal admission into GCF
COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Challenges• Low REDD/PES awareness at federal, state and
site levels
• Low institutional capacity at all levels
• No federal or state level REDD carbon framework/legislation
• Uncertainty around land tenure and carbon rights
• Low budgets to environment at federal and state levels
• Significant gaps in sustainable NTFP harvesting and marketing plans
• Combating major drivers of deforestation
• high degree of political support and leadership
• Significant high carbon habitat and rich biodiversity
• Valuable community forestry examples
• Significant NTFP potential and tree crop farming
• Ecotourism potential
• Large potential client base for purchase of future credits
• high degree of political support and leadership
• Significant high carbon habitat and rich biodiversity
• Valuable community forestry examples
• Significant NTFP potential and tree crop farming
• Ecotourism potential
• Large potential client base for purchase of future credits
Our strengths Aspirations
remain clean and green as a biodiversity hotspot
increased level of forest conservation increased level of forest conservation and protectionand protection
address rural poverty and unemployment by promoting micro-enterprise
extend the state forest cover- 5 m seedling annually convert timber dealers and other convert timber dealers and other forest exploiters into forest growersforest exploiters into forest growers
promote rural electrification based on renewable energy
remain clean and green as a biodiversity hotspot
increased level of forest conservation increased level of forest conservation and protectionand protection
address rural poverty and unemployment by promoting micro-enterprise
extend the state forest cover- 5 m seedling annually convert timber dealers and other convert timber dealers and other forest exploiters into forest growersforest exploiters into forest growers
promote rural electrification based on renewable energy
LAC forest program: FCPF
• Within 10 years, Cross River State will have 1 million hectares of forest lands managed for climate change friendly activities
• These will include carbon credits, non-timber forest products, sustainable tree crops and ecotourism
• This could potentially generate new economic value into the state.
• Within 10 years, Cross River State will have 1 million hectares of forest lands managed for climate change friendly activities
• These will include carbon credits, non-timber forest products, sustainable tree crops and ecotourism
• This could potentially generate new economic value into the state.
CROSS RIVER STATE’S VISION
• We would like to ask for partnership with you on this journey that we are committed to travelling.
• You will have all the political support you require to help us achieve our vision for a carbon friendly future.
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Thank you!!!
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