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

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

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.

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!!!