Cross River State Government has restated its commitment to the protection of its forest reserve in conformity with the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forests Degradation (UN-REDD) programme.

Governor Liyel Imoke reiterated this while receiving Dr. Julian L. Bayliss of Cambridge University as well as the United Nations Environmental Programme on World Conservation Monitoring Centre, during a courtesy call, Friday, saying “we are of the view that the forest deserves to be protected to attract carbon credit and we will encourage partnership with United Nations to further the cause”.

Imoke lamented the adverse effect of climate change on the Agbokim Water Falls, Etung Local Government Area, as its water level is adversely affected by depletation and deforestation.  According to the Governor, the State is making every effort to protect further adverse effects of deforestation while commending Mr. Odigha Odigha, Chairman of the State Forestry Commission for spear heading the State’s forestry programme and bringing it to lime light internationally.

Dr. Julian L. Bayliss of University of Cambridge and the United Nations Environmental Programme on World Conservation Monitoring Centre, who described himself as a consultant to United Nations, said he was in Cross River to understudy its capacity to handle REDD in its deforestation programme.

Bayliss disclosed that having worked in Tanzania before, he was prepared to share his experience with Cross River while using a multi media presentation to show case Tanzania – its Forest and Carbon, status of Forest in Tanzania, Carbon Estimates and Global Ecology zones and hoped to extend the study  carried out in Tanzania to Nigeria.

Mr. Odigha Odigha, Chairman Cross River State Forestry Commission in an opening remarks, said the guest was in the State to access the capacity of Nigeria and Cross River in particular to handle REDD at the Federal and State levels, as well as monitor carbon level in the State.

Cross River State is in the forefront of environmental conservative efforts in the country.  Only last year at Copenhagen, the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke was nominated into the Governors’ Global Task Force on the environment, chaired by the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegar.