Ecosystems Restoration Strategies for the Cross River Rainforest Zones. Preparing Forest Stakeholders for the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration 2021 to 2030

摘要

This paper set out to chart a pathway for the restoration of rainforest ecosystems in Cross River State in line with the United Nations declaration of years 2021-2030 as the Decade on Ecosystems restoration. The paper looked at the essence of ecosystems restoration and zeroed-in on forest restoration, it touched on the problems such as the impairment of biodiversity and land productivity as well as causes of rainforest ecosystems degradation which included among other conversions of forests to other uses, ignorance on the part of community members. The paper proceeded to address some strategies for ecosystem restoration to include reforestation, afforestation, Environmental Education, preservation and conservation among other strategies. It was concluded that if these strategies are followed, the decades objectives will be achieved. It was recommended that government should incorporate the Cross River National Park in the implementation of the forthcoming decade, partnership should be enhanced amongst stakeholders to ensure smooth observance of the decade and that the policy of placing a moratorium on logging in the state should be re-activated and enforced effectively as a precursor to the beginning of the decade while aggressive Environmental Education should be carried out at both community and regional levels.