Forest Policies Governance in Cross River State

Forest Policies & Governance in Cross River State (CRS), Nigeria Presented at Oslo Governance Forum, Norway By Odigha 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 Our political Will: CRS: - Bold Reforms & climate change policy • 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.

Policy reform manage for carbon concession Polcy reform to to manage for carbon concession FOREST NURSERY – OBAN Forest nursery, Ranch Resort sub-charge, Obanliku

COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

POLITICAL WILL

COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 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

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

Our strengths Aspirations • high degree of political support and leadership remain clean and green as a biodiversity hotspot • Significant high carbon habitat and rich biodiversity increased level of forest conservation and protection • Valuable community forestry examples address rural poverty and unemployment by promoting microenterprise • Significant NTFP potential and tree crop farming extend the state forest cover- 5 m seedling annually • Ecotourism potential convert timber dealers and other forest exploiters into forest growers • Large potential client base for purchase of future credits promote rural electrification based on renewable energy

CROSS RIVER STATE’S VISION 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.

Thank you!!! • 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. 15