By: Haruna Kuyateh
Action Against Poverty – a community based organisation has distributed 6,000 seedlings of tree species which include mangoes, mahogany, and netto to farmers in the North Bank Region to enable them address issue of deforestation.
The support came through the courtesy of Global Environment Facility United Nation Office for Project Services (UNOPS) small grant. This support aimed at strengthening farmers’ capacity on environmental protection and preservation techniques. UNOPS has lots of Programmes and global environmental facility (GEF) is a Small grant among the programs.
The beneficiary communities included Ngain Sanjal, Sarakunda, Kumbija, Ballo Ibra, Daffa and Samba Soto.
Ali Gaye, National Coordinator for Action Against Poverty highlighted the significance of empowering communities to participate in the restoration of lost forest cover.
He said the establishment of central nursery at Ngain Sanjal has imparted positively on the lives of the community, citing hiring of tree nursery attendants for proper management and empowered in the acquisition of skills on tree nursery and by extension contribute to poverty reduction.
He lauded Regional Forestry Office representative in Farafenni for their roles in transferring appropriate skills and knowledge on forest management practices and supervision of central nursery.
The Coordinator stated that 100 improve cooking stoves were distributed at community levels and the overall objective is to help households promote the use of stoves. The provision of stoves would help reduce pressure on the forest, enhance health of women and children.
For his part Chief, Malick Bouy of Sabach Sanjal commended AAP for the timely intervention of empowering communities to join forces in combating deforestation.
Meanwhile, he expressed concerned on the rate of illegal activities at the forest and calls for all hands to be on deck to promote reforestation. As he called for vigorous planting and protection of trees from stray animals and bush fire, he disclosed that the district tribunal have zero tolerance on destruction of forest.
He reiterated the need for more donor support to AAP, while he assured them of their further intervention in communities to continue strengthen resilience building in mitigating effects of climate change.