640 Farmers Learn Sustainable Methods in Cross River

Farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria, are learning to grow food and earn income without destroying the forests their communities depend on.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation trained 640 people across eight communities near Cross River National Park through a project called "Iko Esai." The training focused on sustainable agriculture and non-timber forest products, giving locals ways to make money while protecting the trees.

The results speak for themselves. Over three years, the German-funded project restored 120 hectares of damaged forest and established new forest governance systems in participating communities. Women made up a significant portion of trainees, with 400 learning green enterprise skills.

Joseph Onoja, the foundation's director general, explained that Cross River holds one of Nigeria's largest forest expanses. Protecting it matters not just for the state, but for the entire West African region.

The project targeted communities in Akamkpa and Yakurr local government areas, places where people traditionally relied on forest resources for survival. Instead of simply telling residents to stop using the forest, the foundation gave them alternatives.

The Ripple Effect goes beyond just planting trees. George Oben-Etche from the Cross River Forest Commission pointed out that stopping deforestation requires giving communities sustainable ways to earn a living. You can't ask people to protect forests if they can't feed their families.

The Calabar Chamber of Commerce is already working to connect trained farmers with markets for their products. That connection turns conservation training into real income, making sustainable practices stick.

Local officials praised the approach. The state agriculture commissioner noted that forest destruction drives climate change, urging Nigerians to prioritize conservation. "When you maintain the planet, the planet will in turn maintain you," he said.

The project shows how environmental protection and economic development can work together. Farmers don't have to choose between feeding their families and protecting forests anymore.

Cross River National Park representatives emphasized that sustainable management ensures forests survive for future generations. The 640 trained farmers now carry that knowledge into their communities, multiplying the project's impact.

These communities are proving that protecting nature and building prosperity aren't opposing goals.