A non-governmental organisation, Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-Africa), has trained 20 eco-guards in New Ekuri community of Cross River State as part of efforts to curb illegal logging and other forms of forest exploitation in the Ekuri rainforest.
The five-day intensive training, organised by the group, targeted community-based forest defenders and aimed at strengthening grassroots capacity to protect one of Nigeria’s remaining tropical forests.
Executive Director of the organisation and community leader of New Ekuri, Dr. Martins Egot, said the initiative was in response to rising environmental threats, including illegal logging and unauthorised mining activities in the area.
Egot noted that the training forms part of a broader programme to reinforce community-led forest protection systems across Cross River State, adding that over 100 eco-guards have so far been established in various forest communities by the organisation.
According to him, the programme was designed to enhance the operational capacity of the eco-guards through practical knowledge and field-based skills.
He said the training modules covered anti-poaching strategies, forest surveillance and patrol techniques, intelligence gathering, conflict management, and basic first aid.
“These skills are critical in equipping local forest defenders to effectively respond to the growing challenges facing the Ekuri forest and other forest reserves,” he said.
Egot emphasised the importance of community ownership in conservation efforts, stressing that local participation remains one of the most effective approaches to safeguarding natural ecosystems.
He reiterated the organisation’s commitment to preserving the rich biodiversity of Cross River State and ensuring that forest resources are sustainably managed for future generations.
The training, he added, represents a significant step towards strengthening grassroots environmental governance and empowering local communities as frontline defenders of the environment.
PADIC-Africa, however, called on government agencies, conservation partners, and the public to support ongoing efforts to protect the Ekuri forest and promote sustainable natural resource management across the state.
By Stina Ezin, Calabar