Miners within the Cross River National Park have been accused of using dangerous chemicals in their mining operations.
The Conservator of the CRNP, Mrs Caroline Olory, who lamented the large number of illegal miners in the Park, said the chemicals can affect upcoming generations as they pollute water sources.
She spoke at a meeting organized by Wildlife Conservation Society, WCS, with support from Arcus Foundation, themed, ‘Improving the management of Cross River National Park’.
Olory said, “The recent dangerous challenge that the CRNP is contending with is the issue of illegal mining. Some of them use many chemicals, especially mercury which harms the water. And our generations will suffer the consequences throughout life. Mining in the Park is now a big challenge.
“If we don’t arrest this now the effects are calamitous such that the climate has been negatively impacted. And our generations will be depriving the future of vast forest benefits. ”
She called on the 30 CRNP host communities to help safeguard the Park against mining, hunting and logging.
Olory said 90 per cent of Cross River forests have disappeared, noting that the only hope is the CRNP because it is under the protection of the Federal Government.
She warned mining officers against being compromised by accepting bribe from loggers and illegal miners.
According to her, illegal mining has wrecked havoc on local communities.
“Not one community can boast of any infrastructures, including houses or other facilities they got for allowing illegal miners to devastate their lands and deplete arrays of forests resources.”
She further noted that some of the host communities attempt to sell lands within the Park, and reminded them about the Land Use Act which bestows all lands to the state and federal governments.
Legal Officer of CRNP, Haruna Mohammed, noted that they have powers to fine, arrest and prosecute illegal miners.
Some of the stakeholders contended that it would be very difficult for them not to rely on the forests for their livelihoods without alternatives.
“CRNP should package economic benefits for us if we must desist from hunting and getting forest resources for our sustenance. Let them give us alternatives. You cannot take away our sources of livelihood without providing alternatives.
“We need revolving loan schemes. We need access roads. We need pipe borne water as our waters are exposed to harms,” Chief Ntui Michael, head of Nkwot village, said.
