By Musa
About a dozen communities across Wuli east and west in the Upper River Region are benefiting from a 6-day climate change sensitization courtesy of a local NGO Beakanyang.
Speaking at the first forum held in Nyakoi Taibatou, Nfamara Jawneh, the Executive Director of Beakanyang reminded community members that climate change is real and affects almost everyone including the people of Wuli.
According to Jawneh, rainfall patterns have changed over the years with limited and unpredictable rains resulting to poor yield by farmers.
“Communities in Wuli have being experiencing the effects of climate change such as flooding, extreme weather condition, deforestation and erosion,” he lamented.
He added: “If you could recalled at the beginning of the raining season last year several houses and animals were washed away by windstorm in many communities here in Nyakoi and in some communities we are visiting have in fact lost their love ones during those disasters. For us all these are effect of climate change.”
Mr Jawneh called on community members to desist from the indiscriminate cutting down of trees and to stop setting the bush on fire.
Jawneh calls for vigilant and concerted efforts in preserving the environment while encouraging locals to plant more trees.
For his part, Mr. Fanding Barrow, a board member of Beakanyang commended the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme of UNDP for supporting the climate change sensitization tour.
The tour he said is necessary considering the vulnerability of the communities especially persons with disabilities.
He disclosed that the tour which includes traditional communicators locally known as Kanyellengs, climate experts, staff and board members will cover ten communities in Wuli East and West respectively.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Omar Malmo Sambou a lecturer from the University of the Gambia and a climate change expert told the communities that climate changes is really happening now and people need to take serious actions to mitigate its impact.
“We need to act now rather than later is we are really serious about addressing the impacts of climate change,” Malmo Said.
According to him, due to climate change reports have shown that we will be experiencing increased in temperatures while food production will also significantly reduced.
He urged the people of Wuli to jealously guard their remaining forest cover while encouraging them to build a culture of tree planting.
The environmental activist blamed the government for failing to effectively implement the environmental legislations and conventions and treaties the country has signed.
Meanwhile, from community to community, the Department of Forestry is alleged to be the biggest threat to our forest cover. Many communities blame foresters for giving permits for tree felling or compromising the law and their responsibilities for personal gains.
Mbembanding Jabby, Alkalo of Taibatou thanked Beakanyang for the tour noting that the impact of climate change can be reduced but required concerted efforts by all.
He expressed their readiness to work with Beakanyang in developing their community forest while calling for support to establish an ecotourism centre in the village.
Fatou Cesay, a women leader in Bajonkoto said they need more support to mitigate the effects of climate change adding that they are really suffering as a result of climate change.
