The Mangrove Action Project (MAP), a global organization dedicated to the conservation of threatened mangrove forests, has raised formal alarms over the clearing of a 100-hectare restoration site in Esierebom, Cross River State. The destruction of this project, which was built through years of community-led labor and international support, is being cited as a significant setback for both local biodiversity and climate resilience.
In an urgent letter addressed to Dr. Edu Effiom of the Cross River State Climate Change Council, Alfredo Quarto, Advocacy Director and Co-Founder of MAP, criticized the decision to clear the site to make way for an “ultramodern marketplace.” The development, he noted, was executed without prior consultation with the local stakeholders who had transformed the degraded land into a thriving ecosystem.
The Esierebom restoration project had served as a flagship initiative for the Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC), a youth-led organization that, alongside community volunteers, worked for over two years to restore the mangrove habitat. The project was bolstered by technical and financial backing from the UN-REDD Programme and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme. By the time of the clearing, the BRC had successfully planted more than 10,000 seedlings, supplemented by an additional 3,000 raised in a specialized local nursery.
“Though there may be good reason for building such a market, couldn’t this be built in another location, and thus not affecting the vital mangroves that had been so successfully re-established?” Quarto asked in his correspondence.
MAP’s intervention highlights a recurring tension between rapid infrastructure development and the preservation of sensitive coastal ecosystems. Mangroves are critical to the Niger Delta’s stability; they serve as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion, sequester vast amounts of carbon, and provide essential habitats for fish populations that sustain local livelihoods. By destroying a 100-hectare buffer, critics argue the state is inadvertently increasing the area’s vulnerability to flooding and land subsidence.
The advocacy group is demanding immediate transparency from the Cross River State government, specifically regarding the existence and publication of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Under Nigerian law, such projects require a thorough environmental review, which includes public consultation and an Environmental Management Plan. MAP has urged authorities to halt construction until a comprehensive baseline assessment is conducted and made available to the public.
Beyond immediate oversight, MAP has proposed a roadmap to mitigate the damage. This includes the implementation of a “No Net Loss of Biodiversity” strategy, wherein the state would identify alternative coastal sites for large-scale mangrove restoration to compensate for the lost habitat. Furthermore, the organization is calling for a formal multi-stakeholder dialogue—bringing together the state’s Ministry of Environment, the Forestry Commission, community leaders, and civil society groups—to establish a permanent framework for coastal planning.
The controversy poses a significant challenge to the reputation of Cross River State, which has long positioned itself as a champion of environmental conservation and a “Green Innovation Hub” for Nigeria. For observers, the destruction of the Esierebom mangroves appears to contradict the state’s stated ambitions to integrate a “blue economy” into its development agenda.
MAP’s appeal concludes with a call for the government to demonstrate that its economic aspirations can coexist with robust environmental safeguards. As the BRC and other activists continue to press for accountability, the Esierebom case stands as a litmus test for the state’s commitment to balancing the urgent need for infrastructure with the preservation of natural resources that protect the region from an intensifying climate crisis.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
