THE Cross River Government has charged officials of the state Forestry Commission and companies operating within its forest reserve to ensure proper conservation of forest reserve.
Mr. Edet Okon-Asim, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Forestry and Biodiversity, gave the charge when he addressed the commission and companies officials operating in the forest reserve in Calabar on Friday.
Okon-Asim said that it was important for occupants of the forest reserve to conserve its natural resources and ensure adequate protection of the environment.
He said that there was a need to strengthen efforts and relationship between the government and the companies to achieve set goals.
“In protecting our environment, there must be a reforestation of all the degraded areas by planting more trees.
“For companies operating in the forest reserve as farmers, you are expected to cooperate with the laws of the commission,’’ he said.
According to him, 25 companies currently operate in the state forest reserve, hence the need to ensure a proper conservation of the forest.
Okon-Asim, who expressed dissatisfaction that some companies were yet to complete their registration process with the state government, urged them to do so in line with the state forestry policy.
He advised them to desist from negative exploitative tendencies, bush burning and falling of trees, adding that any company caught would be shown the way out of the forestry reserve.
The Permanent Secretary of the commission, Dr Perpetual Achi, said that the forest remain the most precious property of the state, hence the need to preserve it.
Responding on behalf of the companies, Mr. Charles Umoh of Agro Allied Limited, thanked the governor’s aide for bringing them together to support the state government in preserving the forest reserve.
Umoh, who said that agriculture was the top priority of the state government, stressed the need for cooperation between the state government and companies operating in the forest reserve.