Etara community forest is the second largest in Cross River State (CRS). Located in Etung LGA with a size of about 27km2, it is contiguous to Cross River South, Ukpon River, Cross River National Park and Ekuri forest reserves. Consequent upon intense pressure from highly placed government officials and poverty, the people of Etara and Eyeyeng have become vulnerable to the caprices of loggers and land grabbers including the government of Cross River State following the massive forest clearing for a superhighway project. Without doubts this will eventually culminate in total loss of the remaining intact tropical forest and the species therein as well as communities within this region.

This Project therefore seeks to provide tangible benefits to the over 6000 indigenes of Etara and Eyeyeng communities, while engendering their commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of the remnants of Etara&Eyeyeng forest and land through the dedication and development of a 10km2 (about 12% of their total forest land) plot for eco-tourism and conservation education. While serving as a tool for livelihood improvement, community participation in the management of their forest will be strengthened through agroforestry or mix cropping and livestock farming will be encouraged. Some key activities to be implemented will include revision of the community land use plan, survey & demarcation of 10km2 eco-tourism use zone, build the capacity of community people to be able to fit within the key tourism supply & demand value chain (project design & management, conservation & tour guiding, designing interpretive & marketing collaterals, enterprise development such as bookkeeping, etc.).Building community knowledge on citizen?s rights to natural resource use through periodic training workshop and re-afforestation of one hectare forest lost.