By Awyetu Asabe Hope
A non-governmental
organisation, Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative, has trained 20 eco-guards in New Ekuri community, Cross River State, to combat illegal logging and other threats to the Ekuri rainforest.
The five-day training programme targeted community-based forest defenders and aimed to strengthen grassroots capacity to protect one of Nigeria’s remaining tropical forests.
Executive Director of PADIC-Africa and community leader of New Ekuri, Martins Egot, said the initiative was in response to rising environmental threats, including illegal logging and unauthorised mining activities.
He noted that the training is part of a broader effort to reinforce community-led forest protection across Cross River State, adding that the organisation has established over 100 eco-guards in forest communities.
According to him, participants were equipped with practical skills in anti-poaching strategies, forest surveillance, patrol techniques, intelligence gathering, conflict management and basic first aid.
“These skills are critical in enabling local forest defenders to effectively respond to the growing challenges facing the Ekuri forest,” he said.
Egot emphasised that community participation remains key to successful conservation, noting that local ownership strengthens efforts to protect natural ecosystems.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable forest management.
PADIC-Africa also called on government agencies, conservation partners and the public to support ongoing efforts to safeguard forest resources in the state.
