By: Fatou Krubally
Government is reviewing the Forest Act 2018 amid concerns that existing penalties are insufficient to deter illegal logging and environmental degradation linked to transhumance, the Voice reported Tuesday.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang.
Appearing before the National Assembly during deliberations on a report on sustainable transhumance and rural livelihoods, the Minister says that although enforcement has been intensified, the current legal framework requires strengthening.
She disclosed that over the past 10 months, the Department of Forestry had seized 27 vehicles transporting illegal timber and dismantled more than 30 illegal charcoal production sites, with offenders prosecuted before the courts.
According to her, the enforcement campaign included the establishment of a special forestry enforcement unit supported by personnel from the Gambia Armed Forces and dedicated prosecutors from the Gambia Police Force.
However, she acknowledged that existing sanctions might not serve as an effective deterrent.
“Our assessment is that the sanctions are not strong enough to act as a meaningful deterrent,” she told lawmakers, adding that a draft amendment to the Forest Act has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for legal review.
The Minister defended the regulated issuance of tree-felling permits, clarifying that there is no blanket ban on logging. She says permits are granted or rejected following strict review procedures and may be revoked where conditions are breached.
She noted that forest resources remained vital to communities and should be sustainably managed rather than completely prohibited.
On charcoal production, the Minister stated that while the use of charcoal was not illegal, production methods must comply with established environmental regulations.
She says the ministry is promoting cleaner energy alternatives and exploring partnerships to support a sustainable energy transition.
The Minister also announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to plant 30 million trees in collaboration with communities and private partners, with measures in place to ensure the survival of planted seedlings.
She further pledged closer collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture in developing a National Transhumance Policy and climate adaptation strategies that incorporate pastoral considerations.
