PAPFor

Logging and Forest loss

Yuzhou — 2022-07-26T16:55:27Z

Although a statewide ban on logging was introduced in 2009 it has been largely ineffective, and logging is widespread across Cross River State. Suchlevels of exploitation are clearly unsustainable, and continued forest lossthreatens local watersheds and livelihoods – through reduced water security, soil stabilization, and reduced resiliency to climate change – furtherexacerbating levels of rural poverty.

Hunting for the bushmeat trade

Yuzhou — 2022-07-26T16:50:26Z

Hunting to supply the commercial bushmeat trade is widespread and wildlife populations across much of Cross River State have been largely extirpated outsideof the national park and other protected areas. Bushmeat is a highly valuedcommodity in Nigeria and the bushmeat trade has already decimated populations of large mammals in the forests of Cross River State. Most hunting occurs to supply the commercial bushmeat trade, rather than for subsistenceuse, and most species sold are rodents and duikers (indicating depletion oflarger game species). Unfortunately, there is little or no control of the bushmeat trade and even species that are supposed to be fully protected by law,such as elephant and chimpanzee, may be sold as bushmeat.

Agricultural encroachment

Yuzhou — 2022-07-26T16:46:38Z

The deforestation rate in Cross River is one of the highest anywhere in the world, mainly driven by subsistence agriculture and the practice of shifting cultivation, wherebysmallholder farmers clear small plots of forest each year to plant crops such as cassava, banana, plantain, and cocoa. Large scale conversion of forest for commercial agricultural plantations (notably palm oil, rubber, and pineapple) hasalso significantly impacted the region. Although some of the state's forestreserves have been heavily degraded, Cross River National Park has sur-vived relatively intact due to legal protection provided by the federalgovernment. Fragmentation of the landscape threatens important ha-bitat corridors essential for the conservation of elephants, gorillas, andother large mammals.