By: Isatou Jawara
The Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources ( MECCNAR) has recently launched a nationwide tree planting exercise with the aim of restoring degraded forest and agricultural landscapes with climate resilient plant species.
The tree planting exercise was spearheaded by Large Scale Eco System Based Adaptation (EBA) Project and is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources.
The Large Scale Eco System Based Adaptation (EBA) is a six-year project funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF) to develop climate resilient natural resource based economy, and also to build the climate resilience for Gambian communities and facilitate the development of a sustainable green economy.
Implementing the EBA project, the Ministry of Environment will start a nationwide tree planting exercise at various communities which include LRR, CRR North and South and URR targeting 250 farmers at various communities.
In his tree planting launching address, Honorbale Mbye Jabang, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment said EbA project is a flagship climate change project for The Gambia. He said at policy level government has committed to make sure the country has one million trees planted to tackle the effects of climate change.
According to him on adaptation mechanism he said this will help in improving and restoring degraded lands into forest parks. And also, he said the nationwide tree planting exercise will help farmers get enough seedlings to plant more trees as the project will make sure that enough water is available to restore forest cover by the end of the tree planting exercise.
He therefore urged every Gambian to plant a tree to enable the country move from tree planting to tree growing. “We have experts within the region to assist communities. we need to invest in our natural resources because if we have a rich natural resource based then we are secure, let’s make sure the trees we plant grows,” he concluded.
The Project Manager of EBA disclosed that August as been declared as the month of nationwide tree planting exercise which is part of national efforts to initiate Green Gambia.
He said their project collaborates with community based organizations and farmers to provide them with tree species that can adapt to cliamate change. This especially, trees like lime and baobab which are very important to environment, it feeds and protect livestocks.
He added that the EBA project is trying to introduce the idea of every tree you plant have tree guards, tree guards are type of plastic bag used as shelter trees to nurture trees in early stages.
He therefore urged community forest parks to plant more trees and every Gambian to plant a tree as well.