A good number of Chinese are at the forefront of the ongoing massive deforestation of the remaining forests in Cross River State.
It is believed that Chinese and other foreign firms, who are inducing thousands of jobless Cross River youths to lead them into their forests, are enjoying the support of influential powers in the state.
Boki, one of the vast local government areas in northern Cross River State, still boasts of expansive, thick, and virgin forests with assorted ancient trees as old as over 300 years, alongside innumerable species of animals, including birds not found anywhere else.
Two renowned conservationists and environmentalists, Christopher Oned of the State Forestry Commission and Madam Helen Ndim, who attended conservation conferences in Germany, said the foreigners and other wood loggers mostly go for famous and most-sought-after hard trees like iroko, black afara and bulbiga cedar.
Investigation showed that Wula, Biajua, Kanyang, Bamba, Bokalum, Ubong, Olum, Ashishie, Okwabang, Butatong, Katabang, Boje, Abo Beebo, Bumaji are some of the communities where illegal wood logging is actively being perpetrated.
Read More: https://dailytrust.com/how-chinese-plunder-cross-river-forests
