A synergy spearheaded by Department of Forestry and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), converged stakeholders at a local hotel in Kololi, to develop strategies aimed at effective Community-Base Sustainable Dryland Forest Management.
Funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the five-year project will support community forestry legal ownership transfers in order to bring more dryland forest under sustainable management.
The project will mainly focus in the North Bank Region as the region is endangered by deforestation, officials said.
Muhamadou Lamin Jaite, the director of Policy Analysis Unit, Office of the President, during the officials opening reminded participants not to lost sight of the fact that the strategies of the project remain the same, pointing out that it will focus on building the baseline of the previous initiatives and address institutional and community level capacities for effective dry land forest management in The Gambia.
As such, he said, it is expected to expand and consolidate the community forestry which has been effective in the country in addressing illegal and unsustainable resource use, while contributing immensely to the livelihood improvement of forest communities.
He said that the government regards this project as important component of its development agenda and is highly committed to its successful implementation.
“As you will agree with me, the government under the leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, has demonstrated immense commitment to sustainable forest resource management over the years. This has been manifested through the formulation of an appropriated environmental framework such as the Forest Policy, The Gambia Forest Management Concept (GFMC), The Gambia Environmental Action Plan (GEAP) and the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat desertification,” he said.
He said that all these are taken into account to sustainably manage the environment and enhance the livelihood of Gambians.
Jaiteh further explained that previously, forest management strategies have been developed, sought to promote participatory forest management through community forestry aimed at transferring state forestry ownership to local communities for poverty alleviation, livelihood improvement and environmental protection.
Mustapha Ceesay, an agronomist, at Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), said that the second strategy of the FOA is to make forestry more productive and sustainable. He added that FAO in this light, is assisting all stakeholders to connect, create a common vision, development and implement joint activities.
“This is helping conserve forest and the right of those depending on them. In African and in other continent, FAO is supporting forestry initiative such as the as the reduction of emission from deforestation and forest degradation,” he said.
Malic Bah, the representative of the National Environment Agency (NEA), described forests as an important source of income either directly or indirectly for many people. The money generated by forests and forest products, he said, can be an important source of financing the overall development of a sector.
“One of the major environmental problems faced by Gambia is the degradation of forests,” he said, while pointing out the government’s commitment to environmental conservations.
The degradation of the natural environment, he said, has serious economic and social consequences such as disruption to the natural balance and to the ecosystem services, while on the other hands provides threats to mankind.
Sambou Nget, director of Forestry, said that the project is vital as it would enhance the use of forest resources wisely for sustainable management.
He finally applauded stakeholders for their partnership.
