By Kelvin Obambon
In a move that will strengthen biodiversity protection and forest management, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Nigeria has formally presented a suite of high-grade field equipment to the Cross River State Forestry Commission.
The donation, supported by the European Union (EU), aims to enhance the operational capacity of forest rangers and monitors working within the state’s critical landscapes, including the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains.
The items presented during a brief ceremony on Friday included five motorbikes to facilitate patrol mobility, two Garmin GPSMAP 65 handheld navigators for precise tracking, 20 Exped FlexMat sleeping pads, 10 Arcturus lightweight ripstop nylon ponchos, and 10 TETON 55L Scout internal frame backpack rain covers.
READ ALSO: Former UNICAL VC, Prof. Zana Akpagu, Resigns from ADC, Cites Legal Uncertainties
Speaking at the presentation, Dr. Inaoyom Imong, Country Director of WCS Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the existing partnership between the two organizations. “Our work in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas wouldn’t be possible without the enabling environment that the Cross River State Forestry Commission has created,” Imong stated. He acknowledged the “daunting challenges” facing forest protection but expressed confidence in the resilience of the local communities and the Commission’s leadership.
Beyond the hardware, WCS Nigeria Cross River Landscape Director, Anthony Atah, revealed plans for an integrated approach to forest governance. He noted that WCS is preparing to launch actual reforestation activities using indigenous species in critical areas of Afi and Mbe.
“We would like to make a formal appeal to the Commission to make some contributions so we can replant some of the critical species,” Atah said. He also reiterated the organization’s commitment to renovating the Forestry Commission’s operational offices to improve the working environment for staff.
Receiving the items, the Chairman/CEO of the Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) George Oben-Etchi, described the day as “emotional,” noting that the donation validates months of collaborative discussions.
Oben-Etchi lamented the historical neglect of the forestry sector over the past 17 years, which he attributed to lackadaisical approach of previous governments. He shared a poignant personal memory of his village within the Ekinta Forest, where thick morning dew once shrouded the landscape – a phenomenon that has since vanished due to deforestation and climate change.
“The effort to conserve isn’t an easy one,” Oben-Etchi noted. “We’re not in it for ourselves, but in it for the good of mankind. This donation will challenge the government to see that if we can get help from without, then our help should actually begin from within.”
Clement Umina, former Director of Ecotourism at the Commission, disclosed that WCS is currently assisting nine communities in Afi Mountain to validate their Community Forest Management Plans.
According to Umina, these plans will serve as a “model to expand to all the forest communities in the state,” ensuring that local resources are managed sustainably and legally.
The donation is part of a broader EU-supported programme for the protection of forests and biodiversity in Cross River, signaling a renewed era of transparency and international cooperation in Nigeria’s environmental sector.
Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Forestry Commission, Barr. Lucy Bassey and other management staff of the Commission.
