The youths of siffoe in the Kombo South West coast region over the weekend embarks on a massive tree planting and clearing at the community forest of siffoe.
Speaking at the exercise, Mr. Buba M. Kanteh councilor for Kartong ward said the exercise was coordinated by the youths of siffoe with the aim to replace the lost trees at the siffoe community forest. He went on to describe this exercise as very timely and impressive.
He was quick to commend the youths of siffoe for their foresight to come and work on their community forest which we believe will be the resilient for the development . He said planting various varieties of trees will greatly serve the community to regenerate some of the economic benefits derive from the forest, He lamented on the importance attach to the forest and said the forest will also attract rain fall and tourists . He said with replace forests lost , we believe that rain will increase in the subsequent years to come . I thank the youth of siffoe for their active participation which is gear toward complementing government efforts . He also spoke on the need for people to be vigilant in the forest to avoids intruders. He said protecting the forest should be a collective responsibility while calling on the contribution of every Gambian in particular to plant a trees at their environment.
The councilor further stated there is need for all hands on deck in the protection of our natural forest and avoid exploitation of the forest for our self interest . He used the opportunity to call on the community of siffoe to protect their community forest from exploitation and bushfire.
Also speaking Mr. Amadou Demba ,youths representative of siffoe ,said the exercise is organized under the auspices of the youths of siffoe , mainly to engage in clearing the perimeter of their community forest which has a area cover of 53 hectare of land that was located to the siffoe villagers by the former Alkali the late Landing Demba since 1985. He said this was during the period of the Gambia- Germany project came into existence , thereby the villagers came and express interest on the forest , and then the villagers automatically allocated the land to the Gambia- Germany tree project and it has been existing since in 1987.
According to Mr. Demba, since the there are series of problems from the community forest , which involve the current Sifffoe Alkali Mr. Jerreh Demba who allegedly sold part of the forest to some estate developer like SIS properties. He seized the opportunity to warn forest estate agent to avoid from the siffoe community forest , saying that serious monitoring will be mounted at the siffoe community forest , mainly to see that the forest is a free area and protected for the interest of the siffoe villagers.