Forest Resources of Cross River State: Their Potentials, Threats and Mitigation Measures

Abstract

The distinctive species richness of the Tropical Rain Forest (TRFs) gives it a very high ecological importance. The TRFs also have economic and functional importance, which are of international and local dimensions. Cross River State (CRS) presently has about 40 percent of the remaining threatened TRFs of Nigeria. These forests harbor the largest remnant of comparably unlogged TRFs in the country. The areas covered by the forests are also homes to several rural and indigenous people. At least 75 percent of the total populations of the state live in rural areas. Cross River state is also renowned, worldwide for its ecotourism potentials. The ecotourism industry depends largely on the TRFs, in which species endemic to CRS can be found. Given the present threats posed by several old and emerging factors, this document is fashioned to present a description and compendium of the various forest resources of Cross River state of Nigeria. The major areas of focus include highlights of the forest types. Also considered were economic plants, including timber and nontimber forest products (NTFPs) as well as animal species found in the forests of Cross River state. The article also identifies the various threats to the Forests of Cross River State. In order to solve identified problems , recommendations proffered include need for provision of adequate funds by government, individuals and nongovernmental organizations aimed at better forest management ; employment of more and better trained forestry personnel ; and more efforts on planting of indigenous species to boost biodiversity was advocated.

Land suitability evaluation for oil palm production in Cross River State, Nigeria

“…The state has a multi-vegetational system. Its vegetation ranges from the mangrove swamps in the Southern coastal areas through the tropical rainforests in the southern uplands (Eni et al 2011) and central areas of the State to the southern guinea savannahs in the northern parts of the State (Fon et al, 2014). Montane parkland dominates the Obudu-Obanliku plateaux.…”

Quantification of Above-Ground Biomass over the Cross-River State, Nigeria, Using Sentinel-2 Data

“…The Oban Division (OD) covers an area of 2800 km 2 with 1568 identified plant species while the Okwangwo Division (OkD) has a land area of 800 km 2 with 1545 plant species located in the area [42]. Analysis of the extent of land cover types in the region shows that mangroves occupy 480 km 2 , swamps 520 km 2 , tropical rainforest 7290 km 2 , plantations 460 km 2 , other forests 216 km 2 and other land uses 12,300 km 2 [43].…”