All Forestry Gambia platforms in partnership with the community of Jomo- Kunda in the Foni Kansala over the weekend embarked on massive mangrove restoration at the river bank.
The Exercise was attended by various youths and women within Jomo- Kunda Village and coordinated by the village head.
The exercise is supported by Nema Chosso Project under the ministry of agriculture.
Alkali of Jomo- Kunda Mr. Yaya Jarju expressed appreciative of the initiatives , saying that this kind of exercise is a big boost for the development of his village , particularly taking place at a time that he is the village head.
He said mangrove restoration has been the concern of the villagers in the sense that when the river side was full of mangrove fish were in abundant and other economical means, but due to human nature and climate change the environment is facing a serious degradation.
Jarju challenged the community to continue the hard work and plant more trees especially mangrove which is very important. He commends his community for their active participation during this exercise.
He also commended NEMA- Chosso- Project under the ministry of agriculture for the support rendered toward the project. He described the moved as a step in the right direction.
He also urged and appeal to Nema-Chosso project to extend their support toward this project, while he acknowledge the effort of Ebrima Camara for initiating the exercise.
Mr. Ebrima Camara Coordinator of All Forestry Gambia Platform said that AFP was established in 2012, through the national forestry strategy program funded by FAO to support the implementation of the national forestry program activity.
He said the exercise covered forestry management and protection and during the rainy season tree planting exercise and mangrove restoration or rehabilitation within the community is conducted.
He said the exercise started last year with Nema- Chosso Project under the ministry of agriculture, adding that the main objective of the exercise is to embark on a massive rehabilitation of mangrove within the community.
Camara explained that last year they started with four communities, and was successfully conducted they increase the number of villages to sixteen communities to benefit from this project.
He said this exercise is only limited to West Coast Region, adding that particular village was identify as a result of survey that was conducted and find out that there was need to start with that community.
He urged project manager to work closely in partnership with community based organization or civil society organization, so that they can be able to achieve their project objective.
