By Anna Obi Akpe, 2024 Wetland Restoration Steward and member of the Biodiversity Rescue Club, Nigeria
Picture a green expanse where towering trees form a dense canopy, allowing only dappled sunlight to filter through. A place where time seems to stand still, where the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooms, and where the only sounds are those of nature.
This is Cross River National Park, a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers alike.
Located in the heart of Nigeria’s most forested regions in the southeast of the country, CRNP is a wildlife and biodiversity treasure trove. It includes the Oban Hills, a landscape under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status for its astonishing 1,568 plant species – 77 of which are endemic to the area.
While the park is primarily a protected area, there are also 105 small villages located within its boundaries, which are referred to as support communities.
Life here is simple and revolves around subsistence farming and hunting. In the past, residents lived in harmony with the natural environment by harvesting only what they needed from the forest.
But now, with a rapidly growing population and an economic crisis in Nigeria, unsustainable land use practices have taken hold.
The dense rainforest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species. You’ll find towering mahogany trees, lush ferns and vibrant orchids.
Water is one of the park’s most prominent features. The Cross River, from which the park derives its name, meanders through the landscape, creating beautiful waterways and the trees providing shade to keep them cool and oxygen-rich. You can call it a watery wonderland.
There are also numerous smaller streams and waterfalls that add to the park’s natural beauty, as well as primates like chimpanzees, drill monkeys and the elusive Cross River gorilla.
However, weak governance, poaching and deforestation are putting them all under threat.
There are various drivers of biodiversity loss in Nigeria. Rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization have all put immense pressure on natural resources.
Each year, Nigeria loses 3.5 percent of its forests. Cross River State, in particular, is seeing widespread deforestation due to logging, agriculture and infrastructure development.
One of the main drivers is illegal logging, which has become one of the most profitable wildlife crimes. This has devastating consequences for wildlife as their natural habitats are being ripped apart.
Primates, including the Cross River gorilla, drill monkey and Sclater’s guenon (Nigerian monkey), are particularly vulnerable. The Cross River gorilla is one of the world’s most endangered primates, found exclusively in the Cross River region along the Nigerian–Cameroonian border.
Drill monkeys are highly social and spend most of their time on the forest floor, where they forage for food and explore their environment. However, they’re not immune to the scorching heat, which is why they often take a refreshing dip in the water to cool off their furry bodies. These charismatic creatures are truly a wonder of the rainforest.
But their world is under siege. Deforestation is decimating their habitats and disrupting their intricate social structures and food chains. Drills are territorial by nature, and the loss of their homes is impacting their access to food and leading to malnutrition.
This has a knock-on effect on plants and other animals, as these monkeys play a vital role in plant regeneration by dispersing seeds as they move. As a result, their displacement also impacts plant populations and the health of other animals that rely on those plants for food and shelter.
Poaching is another major threat facing these primates. More than 88 million people in Nigeria live in extreme poverty, and some resort to poaching in a desperate bid to make ends meet.
Drills are hunted for bushmeat, while the Cross River gorilla is targeted for its supposed medicinal properties. The illegal pet trade is also a significant concern, as animals are captured and sold as exotic pets.
Their story is a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats.
In 2015, the Cross River State government announced plans to build a 260-kilometer superhighway route through the national park. Forests and farmlands were torn down to make way for the highway, disregarding environmental impact assessments.
The project has since been abandoned due to interventions from national and international bodies, but irreversible damage has already been done to the ecosystem.
Nigeria’s environmental challenges are deeply intertwined with its political and economic landscape. The country’s dependence on oil, which dominates its export earnings and government revenue, has led to neglect of other vital sectors, including conservation.
As a result, poverty and unemployment have driven many communities to exploit natural resources unsustainably, exacerbating environmental degradation.
Cultural factors also play a significant role in Nigeria’s environmental struggles. Some traditional practices banned the hunting of endangered species and restricted access to vital ecosystems. While these practices have historically protected biodiversity against poaching and deforestation, modern pressures and changing lifestyles are eroding them.
To address these issues, it is essential to engage local communities in conservation efforts by integrating traditional knowledge with modern practices.
“Engaging local communities in conservation efforts that provide alternative livelihoods, such as ecotourism, sustainable agriculture and handicrafts, can reduce their dependence on forest resources and increase awareness about the importance of conservation,” says Robert A. Ewa, the Cross River State commissioner for tourism, art and culture.
To achieve this, it’s essential to restore degraded areas and reconnect fragmented habitats. Planting native tree species and establishing forest corridors can help ensure the survival of primate populations.
Other important measures are to employ more park rangers, strengthen laws against illegal logging and hunting and ensure their strict enforcement, as well as policies that promote sustainable land use and protect critical habitats.
Similarly, it’s crucial to continuously research and monitor primate populations and their habitats to inform conservation strategies.
“A comprehensive approach is necessary to effectively protect the Cross River rainforest and its primates,” says Caroline Samuel Olory, the conservator of CRNP.
“This includes strengthening the management and funding of Cross River National Park, where regular patrols and the use of technologies like drones and camera traps can be utilized to prevent illegal logging and poaching and ensure effective law enforcement.”
Lastly, the world must address the climate crisis by reducing carbon emissions, reforesting and adopting sustainable land management practices. Conservation efforts must incorporate climate resilience strategies to ensure the long-term protection of this critical ecosystem.
In Cross River State, community-based conservation efforts have demonstrated success in certain areas.
A notable example is the Ekuri Initiative, a community-led forest management project that has successfully integrated conservation with sustainable development. By managing their forest resources and promoting eco-tourism, the Ekuri community has protected their forest while improving their livelihoods.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has also made significant strides in the region through its anti-poaching patrols, community education and livelihood enhancement efforts. These initiatives have led to a decrease in illegal activities and an increase in wildlife populations.
Drill Ranch is another organization dedicated to breeding and rehabilitating endangered species of primates and releasing them into the wild.
And at the Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC), a youth-led group situated in Calabar, Nigeria, we are dedicated to combating nature and biodiversity loss through restoration initiatives, activism and education, particularly with youth and schoolchildren.
Despite the challenges, there is still hope to restore wildlife in CRNP. It is essential that we educate our children and future generations about the global crises and invite them to be part of the solution.
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