By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR
The Conservator of the Cross River National Park, Mr. Joseph Ntui, has raised alarm over the rapid depletion of Cross River’s rainforest, disclosing that about 14,000 hectares of tropical rainforest were lost in 2025 alone, resulting in the emission of an estimated eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Ntui gave the warning Thursday while speaking to Vanguard on the sidelines of the 4th Multi stakeholders’ Conference on Deforestation Cross River State with theme: ” Forest, People, and Policy-Shifting power abd Strategies for combating Deforestation orgsnised by We the people in Calabar
Ntui described the rate of deforestation as a major environmental threat, warning that the continued destruction of the forest is endangering biodiversity, worsening climate change and contributing to recurring floods in the state.
According to him, global research data indicate that the destruction of about 14,000 hectares of rainforest last year released approximately eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
