The logging activities by a Chinese firm in the famous Pandam Wildlife Park in Quanpan local government area of Plateau State has created an uneasy calm in Pandam as members of the host community fear ecological disasters as more trees are cut down.  Reports ACHOR ABIMAJE (Jos).

Worried by attempt to deforest  the Pandam game reserve situated in Namu in Quanpan local government council of Plateau State the Jepjan community of the local government  has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Conservator General of Nigeria and all other relevant stakeholders, including National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Federal Ministry of Environment, to intervene urgently to prevent a looming ecological disaster in the area.

The Pandam game reserve was established by the defunct Benue Plateau State in 1972 and it remains one of the largest game reserves in the state  today.

Pandam protects 224km of unspoiled savannah wetlands and forest and is home to many species of animals, roan  antelope, shy duikers, warthogs and  monkeys can all be seen living in their natural environment.

Also, hippopotamus  and the rare African manatee are found in the lake Pandam too. Likewise the Patient  birdwatcher will be rewarded by sighting of brilliantly coloured parrots and tauracos , noisy hornbills and secretive herons.

As Nigeria’s population grows and its land continues to be developed, many of its wild areas are being lost. Wildlife experts say Pandam Wildlife Park aims to provide a place for visitors to learn about and enjoy the natural environment and to ensure that future generations of Nigerians are able to experience for themselves their Country’s reach natural heritage.

Activities of the park include:  picnicking, game viewing, bird watching, sport fishing, boating/canoeing, self  guided trail and research haven.

Our correspondent gathered that this Ramser Wetland  (Pandam game reserve/lake), of international importance is already been degraded and destroyed by a Chinese Company alleged to have been granted lumbering permit by the Plateau State government to harvest wetland resources contrary to Regulation 9(1) of National Environmental (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores Protection) Regulations, 2009 which states that: a person shall not carry out an activity in a wetland without a permit issued by the Agency (NESREA).

It was further alleged that the Pan people were the sole occupants of the territory upon which the game reserve was established, as investigation revealed that till date, adequate compensation for the use of the land by government has not been carried out though alternative residence under resettlement scheme was done.

Jepjan community still holds to the fact that compensation under the law must be adequate to fulfil the bases for public use of communal or individual lands sought for such use by government.

“It is therefore with great opprobrium, anger and disappointment that we regretfully want to draw the attention of the general public to clandestine plans and activities being carried out with a view to deforest and privatise  natural resources in Pandam Game Reserve,  which has commenced in earnest in Bwall district of Quanpan LGA,” Silas Barnabas, a resident of the area cries.

Speaking to our correspondent on behalf of the community, Barrister Albert Kobep lamented that in the 21st century, it is simply mind boggling to imagine why a responsible government can involve itself in a venture which is capable of causing long lasting ecological disaster to vast territory.

According to him, the federal government has had a policy for reforestation in order to be check the activities of desertification and certainly the felling of these trees will not help to put it mildly, in achieving the objective of stemming the downward movement of the desert adding that closely allied is the fact that the game reserve is home to rare species such as the pig my hippopotamus, various exotic birds, monkeys and other wildlife, thus, if the forest was logged where will these animals go?

“In an era where the mantra is going green and trying to establish means of revenue generation based on eco tourism will the pittance which will be generated from the sale of the timber be sustainable as a means of generating revenue for the government? Compared to the resuscitation of the game  reserve by providing the necessary infrastructure to encourage tourist, which will generate revenue and still preserve this heritage for future generations, we believe that the plan is ill advised, untimely, insensitive and downright

irresponsible,” Kobep queries.

The community spokesman also said the biodiversity management has been identified as being key in sustaining livelihoods of indigenous people as it forms a core part of the fabric around which their identity and traditional knowledge are intrinsically woven saying that advance plans have been made between the government of Plateau State and expatriate companies who have no regards for the consequences of the venture on the sustainability of

the land for the people but only for their capital interest, is irresponsible bothering on criminal.

Members of Jepjan community are appealing  to the federal government, the Conservator General of Nigeria and all other relevant stakeholders including NESREA and the Federal Ministry of Environment to intervene urgently to prevent a looming ecological disaster and to urgently investigate the activities in the game reserve and put an immediate halt to such a process stressing that that the people of Pandam where not consulted.

“We want to know the whereabouts of the environmental impact assessment report,

the degree of compliance with the various protocol which Nigeria has signed at the U.N for the preservation of biodiversity, and for the equitable participation of indigenous people in the exploitation of their natural resources.

“The argument put forward by the state government that the state is in dire need of funds and hence the resort to sale of timber to generate funds is not sustainable. This is because there is an existing legal framework which regulates the exploitation of natural resources,” community members said.

The community further argued that Nigeria is a signatory to a number of international instruments and has ratified conventions related to same, these include Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification (1994), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1980) amongst others.

According to them, Section 7 (c) of the NESREA Act of 2007 confers the power on the agency to enforce compliance with the provisions of international agreements, protocols, conventions and treatise on the environment, including climate change, biodiversity, conservation, desertification, forestry, oil and gas, chemicals, hazardous wastes, ozone depletion, marine and wild life, pollution, sanitation and such other environmental agreements as may from time to time come into force.

They pointed out that from the above provisions, any venture which is intended or which has consequences on any of the above listed matters would have to involve the agency where it is intended in good faith. “Has the Plateau State government involved NESREA in this process?” they asked.

The community leaders further stressed that section 7 of the same Act also provides that the agency shall have the responsibility to enforce environmental control measures through

registration, licensing and permitting systems other than in the oil and gas sector adding that to what extent has the Plateau State government complied with the foregoing provisions?

Speaking in the same vein, a Lawyer, Mr Solomon Datong, said under the Environmental Impact Assessment decree of 1992, schedule provides under item 6 the descriptions of the areas where it is mandatory for an environmental impact assessment to be conducted to

include conversion of hill forest land to other land use covering an area of 50 hectares or more, logging or conversion of forest land to other land use within the catchment area of reservoirs used for municipal water supply, irrigation or hydro power generation or in areas adjacent to state and national parks and national marine parks.

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Qu’anpan community cry out, as Chinese firm continue to log Pandam game reserve