By: Haruna Kuyateh
The National Coordinator of Action Against Poverty (AAP) has emphasized that significant members and partners attached to efficient and effective restoration of forest cover will enhance the ecosystem and livelihood development.
Ali Gaye was speaking on Friday at a stakeholders meeting organized by AAP as part of implementation of one year Global Environment Facility funded project dubbed Agro Forestry Restoration Program.
The sensitization forum was held in Ngain Sanjal and attended by six beneficiary communities of Sabach Sanjal in the North Bank Region. He noted that the project aim to increase over 6000 tree nursery of different species to contribute to the restoration of forest and farmland.
He expressed concern on the deteriorating threat posed by deforestation, simply due to people’s ignorance and awareness on the protection and regeneration of indigenous trees.
He called on the beneficiary communities to be vigilant and steadfast on the implementation of project.
Chief Malick Bouy of Sabach Sanjal renewed district tribunal zero tolerance to all form of illegal activities in the forest including bushfire.
He noted with the great concerned on current trend of deforestation and call on the alkalolu, forest scout in the district to be vigilant and report any one to forestry officials and district tribunal for possible actions.
Commenting on the project, chief Bouy described the intervention of the project as timely, citing the depleting forest cover and assured of his fullest support. District chief thanked the peoples of Sabach Sanjal for protecting the forest from bushfire in the last five years.
Malamin IL Bojang chairman of Kerewan Area Council lauded Action Against Poverty for building resilience in mitigating the effects of climate change and boost food production.
He said the intervention in working with six communities and beyond to encourage the establishment of individual woodlots and community.
Dilating on the establishment of Community Forest, chairman Bojang noted that community should work with forestry officials to assist them meet the requirement as it enhance community capacity on forest management.
Chairman Bojang call on the people of the region to be mindful of selling all their land, noting that proper land management and usage will help to improve needs of families.
Muhamed Dambele Forest Office in Farafenni commended AAP for complementing department of forestry on the restoration of forest cover and reminds peoples to desist from felling down trees at the farmland.
He noted that encouraging farmers and community to adopt agro forestry practises along farm boundaries aim to address soil and water erosion and by extension increase soil nutrient.
Commenting on illegal logging, he challenges the district authority, foresters and volunteers to be vigilant and report peoples who are in the habit of destroying the meager forest resources for possible action.
Pa Bouy, Ward councillor expressed concern on inadequate trees to serve as windbreaker, noting that Sabach Sanjal counted as the most affected disaster families simply due to windstorms, according to Regional Disaster Management Office in Kerewan.
He challenges the people in the district to champion tree planting and protection on farmland to mitigate effects of climate change.