SUSTAINABLE GREEN DRIVE: C’RIVER SIGNS LANDMARK MOU WITH PROCESSED WOOD ASSOCIATION
✓ 25,000 seedlings of various tree species already planted
By Christiana Ushang
Calabar, Nigeria — The Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC) has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Processed Wood Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (PROWPMAN) to implement a Sustainable Green Project aimed at restoring degraded forest reserves across the state.
The agreement, signed on Thursday by the Chairman of the Commission, Ntufam Rt. Hon. Deacon George Oben-Etchi, PhD, and the National President of PROWPMAN, Chief Ademola Christopher Oyaleke, covers 5,000 hectares of land to be rehabilitated across the three senatorial districts:
✓ Oban Group Forest Reserve, Akamkpa Local Government Area (South)
✓ Okon River Forest Reserve – Edondon, Obubra Local Government Area (Central)
✓ Yache Forest Reserve – Alifokpa, Yala Local Government Area (North).
Chief Oyaleke described the initiative as a bold step towards sustainable forest management, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation. He noted that the project would also create livelihood opportunities and foster community participation in environmental stewardship.
“This is PROWPMAN’s most successful afforestation effort in Nigeria, and we are proud to partner with the Cross River Forestry Commission in advancing a greener, more sustainable future,” Oyaleke said, commending the Commission’s leadership for its unwavering support.
In his remarks, the CRSFC Chairman, Hon. Oben-Etchi, hailed the collaboration as a defining moment in the state’s forest restoration drive.
“We want Cross Riverians to know that deliberate and conscious efforts are being made through tree planting to reclaim our forest reserves. With this MOU, we now have a working document and a reference point for future generations,” he declared.
Oben-Etchi further pledged transparency in the Commission’s operations, promising to make its progress public as evidence of the state’s commitment to forest conservation and sustainable management.
The Director of Forestry, Mr Donatus Adie, lauded both parties for their foresight and urged other stakeholders, including NGOs, CBOs, and private sector actors, to emulate the effort rather than rely solely on government intervention.
Similarly, Dr Emmanuel A. Ugbong, Secretary of the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), Cross River Chapter, commended the Commission for providing security and logistical support during field activities. He expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly enhance afforestation, regeneration, and ecosystem restoration efforts across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the Cross River Chapter of PROWPMAN, Mr Babatunde Williams, the association’s Secretary, disclosed that over 25,000 seedlings of various tree species have already been planted in Oban, Akamkpa Local Government Area, as part of the project’s 5,000- hectare pilot phase.
He appreciated the Commission’s continuous collaboration and support, which, he said, had been instrumental in ensuring the project’s success.
The Vice President of PROWPMAN, Chief Dosunmi Adetola, extended appreciation to the Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, for granting approval for the project and providing vital logistics to ensure its smooth take-off.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Oben-Etchi thanked PROWPMAN and the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) for their steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability, assuring that the partnership would “stand the test of time” and significantly expand the state’s forest cover.
“Together, we are shaping a legacy of restoration, resilience, and responsibility that will safeguard our forests for generations to come,” he concluded.
