Officials of Green-Up, onWednesday 10th January,2018, presented a framed copy of the ‘Banjul Declaration’ to the Ministry ofEnvironment, Climate Change and Natural Resources at the ministry along theKairaba Avenue.
The‘Banjul Declaration’ is a statement made by the then President Sir DawdaKairaba Jawara (DK) in 1977, aimed at calling attention to the need to protectThe Gambia’s quickly vanishing flora and fauna.
Received by the minister of environment, the presentation, according to Green-Up, was meant to remind the new government of the commitments in the Declaration and tourged them to renew the drive for a safe and sound environment for all.
Green-Upis a national youth-led tree planting initiative that is implemented by ClimateWatch-The Gambia and Youth Action for Sustainable Development.
Speakingat the handing over ceremony, Omar Sambou, the Program Manager of ClimateWatch- The Gambia, also the Advocacy Officer for Green-Up commended theministry for the moves it has been taking in ensuring that environmentalchallenges are tackled.
Hesaid the ‘Banjul Declaration’ is significant and that every Gambian shouldfamiliarize themselves with it.
KemoFatty, the Director of Green-Up, said they are aware of the strides theMinistry of Environment is taking in upholding the dictates of the Declaration.He lauded the ministry for its initiative of planting trees at the Monkey Parkand urged them to help provide a borehole for ease sustenance of the plantedtrees.
TheMinister of Environment, Honorable Lamin Dibba, thanked Green-Up for theinitiative, saying it reminds Gambians of the need to protect and preserve theflora and fauna. He said the ‘Banjul Declaration’ is more relevant today thanwhen it was declared.
“Thereare increasing pressures on housing, fuel wood and others resources. Pressuresare higher today than in 1977,” he said.
Whilecelebrating the visionary leadership of former president, Sir Dawda KairabaJawara, Minister Dibba accentuated the significance of the environment.
“Environmentis where everything happens. It is what complements our need for foodself-sufficiency,” he remarked.
Hesaid the environment is the central pillar for development and that it hasgreat potentials of boosting tourism and other development areas.
Theminister finally advised the public to stop bush fire and illegal cutting downof trees.
The‘Banjul Declaration’ reads:
“Itis a sobering reflection that in a relatively short period of our history mostof our larger wildlife species have disappeared together with much of theoriginal forest cover. The survival of the wildlife stillremaining with us and the setting aside of protected natural habitats for themis the concern of all of us.
Itwould be tragic if this priceless natural heritage, the product of millions ofyears of evolution, should be further endangered or lost for want of properconcern. This concern is a duty we owe to ourselves, to our great Africanheritage and to the world.
ThusI solemnly declare that my Government pledges its untiring efforts to conservefor now and posterity as wide a spectrum as possible of our remaining fauna andflora.”
