By: Haruna Kuyateh
4H Gambia organized one day anti-bush fire campaign with farmers drawn from 9 communities in Upper Baddibou and Jokadou.
The forum aims to strengthen partnership with forestry and personnel of Gambia Fire and Rescue Services to enhance the skills of communities. The forum was held in Farafenni North Bank Region.
Speaking on the occasion Alieu Ceesay, National Director of 4H the Gambia underscored the need to create awareness among beneficiary communities of Galoya, Biram Kunda, Kubandar, Conteh Kunda Niji and Sukoto, Kerr Omar Saine, Kerr Ngorr, Memmeh and Kaba Koto of Jokadou and Upper Baddibou districts to ensure that over 4000 trees planted are protected from bushfire.
He said bushfires are threat to the growth and development of trees and the forest.
4H boss commended Global Environment Facility UNDP small grant project dubbed building community resilience to mitigate climate change and enhance environmental management.
Lamin Gasama Fire Safety Officer and Leading Fire Fighter at Farafenni Fire and Rescue Service Station noted that building partnership with NGOs will help to create more awareness on management and handling domestic and bush fire. He described the sensitization as significant, noting that protecting the forest from bush fire will create breeding for wildlife species, fire stations, boost income and environment.
He disclosed that his office has carry out assessment of Farafenni and discovered that there were 10 water hydrant points and only one is functional and he calls on the authorities to help them reactivate them.
He urged peoples to always hire professional electricians and standard wire preferable British types and not to place candle near combustible materials.
Muhamed Dambele forestry officer in Farafenni a lead facilitator also commended 4H Gambia in complementing Department of Forestry efforts in promoting all inclusive participation in anti-bush fire campaign to protect and preserve forest resources.
He said the move would strengthen communities’ capacities to respond to bushfire by creating fire belt around the forest and human settlement. He noted that as a department the campaign started in schools to enlighten the awareness of students on the negative impact of bushfire and illegal logging.
He said management and protection of forest against bush fire calls for concerted efforts and challenge alkalolu (Chief) and village development committees in combating deforestation.
He urged on the community to always liaise with the nearest fire stations for support to safe lives and properties, adding that protection of bush will create breeding for wildlife species, boost income and environment
Fatou Bah, administrative officer 4H Gambia thanked farmers for their support and cooperation on the implementation of environment project aim at improving and resilience building to mitigate climate change.