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Biodiversity Hotspot
The rainforests of Cross River State are some
of the richest forests on the African continent and are of worldwide
importance as one of Africa’s 5 biodiversity hotspots. Within Nigeria,
the forests of Cross River State assume even greater importance. The
forests of Cross River State and neighbouring states are inhabited by
many endangered species including forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis),
Sclater’s guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), red-eared guenon (Cercopithecus
erythrotis), drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus), and the
red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus). However these forests
and the species within them face many threats from logging interests and
outright clearance by poor farmers for ever-larger areas of farmland.
Under Threat
Nigeria has lost over 90% of its tropical lowland rainforests and more
than half of the remaining 10% is found within Cross River State (see
map). Over
60% of Nigeria’s endangered plant and animal species are found within
these forests and nowhere else in Nigeria. These remaining forests are
being progressively degraded. Many plant species in these remnant forest
areas are threatened. Nigeria’s growing population requires ever-larger
amounts of a wide variety of products from the forest that remains,
ranging from timber and rattans for construction and furniture, to a
multitude of medicinal and edible plants. Exacerbated by the
over-exploitation of a multitude of non-timber forest products by
traders responding to the increasing purchasing power of city dwellers,
the situation facing rainforests in Nigeria is critical.
What we are doing to help?
CERCOPAN works closely with communities on the
border of the Oban Division of the
Cross River National Park, which both
helps conserve their own community forests, and protect the integrity of
the CRNP western border. Iko Esai, our host community at Rhoko is
actively conserving over 50% of their community forests. CERCOPAN is
currently seeking funding to work with other neighbouring communities to
expand the community forest conservation in the area to over 50,000
hectares. Our education programmes are also vital, speaking as we do to
1000's of young people every year who will have an opportunity to make a
difference to the future of Nigeria's forests. |
