Cross River State, Nigeria — Chasing Deforestation is a series that explores Earth’s most threatened forests through satellite data and reporters on the ground. In the first episode, your host, Romi Castagnino, takes you to the forests of Cross River State in Nigeria. We do a deep dive into the history and social dynamics that shaped the state over the last century.

Our guest, reporter Orji Sunday, talks about the drivers of deforestation inside protected areas and the challenges rural communities face to introduce conservation into their daily lives.

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Banner image: Collage of Romi Castagnino, Mongabay reporter, and a gorilla

Deforestation soars in Nigeria’s gorilla habitat: ‘We are running out of time’