The Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC) has condemned the illegal sale and transfer of lands within forest reserves in the state.

The Chairman, George O’Ben-Etchi, made the expression in a statement in Calabar on Wednesday.

Mr O’Ben-Etchi said that some individuals and groups were unlawfully allocating, leasing and selling portions of land within forest reserves.

He said that under extant laws, all forest reserves remained the exclusive property of the Cross River Government.

The CRSFC chairman said that encroachment on forestry reserves undermined biodiversity conservation and sustainable efforts to manage forests.

Mr O’Ben-Etchi urged traditional institutions and other stakeholders in communities around forestry reserves to avoid sales of lands within the reserves.

He told community members involved in the sale of lands within forestry reserves to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

“Those who take interest in buying lands within the reserves are warned to stop; those transactions are illegal and will not stand. Those transactions cannot confer any ownership rights on buyers regardless of any agreement reached,” he said.

The chairman said that the commission would go to any length to ensure full recovery of all illegally sold lands.

“As a commission, we shall remain committed to the state’s forest heritage,” he said.

(NAN)