By: HARUNA Kuyateh
In the quest of the communities from risk of fire incident and promoting the concept of community forest and effective joint park management, the community of Balingho in joint collaboration with Pakala Joint Foprest Park Management and partnership with Action Against Desertification Project have come together to create fire belt around the forest areas in North Bank Region.
The creation of the fire belt involved eight communities managing Pakala Joint Forest Park of over 500ha. The bush belt was created with particular focus on highway linking Kerewan to Farafenni.
The chairman of Balingho Community Forest of Upper Badibou underscored the importance of protecting the communities as residents are to protect their forest from bushfire and illegal logging.
Hamadi Saidy speaking on the creation of the fire belt disclosed that the community was able to protect the forest from bushfire for over 10 years and this has contributed to the restoration of forest and provide breeding wildlife species.
He disclosed that the Community Forest Management Committee is currently in beekeeping while he thanked Department of Forestry for their unflinching support and cooperation.
Muhamed Dambele Forestry Administrative Circle Head in Farafenni thanked the community of Balingho for their support to forest protection and enhancing regeneration of forest species.
He noted that creating fire belt around the Community Forest and protection of forest from bushfire for 13 years has demonstrated their commitment to restoration of forest cover and by extension boost biodiversity.
Ebrima Njie Chairman of Pakala Joint Forest Park Management Committee noted with satisfaction the high level of community participation and involvement in regeneration and preservation of forest species.
He disclosed that part of the park along the river is well protected between Ndanka Ndanka and Chamen Andes and the result is bee keeping now in progress and would strengthen their capacity.
He thanked the district authorities and Forestry officials for their courage and support, noting that the park has been poorly managed, but since the signing of Pakala Joint Forest Park Management Agreement PCFMA in 2018 at Illiasa under the supervision of Chief Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh significance progress has been registered.
Nato Camara Women leader described women participation in forest protection and management as a very important step. She noted that protection of forest for over ten years as enable women in collection of fuel wood. She highlighted that the protection and preservation would mitigate effects of climate change and boost food production and productivity.
Binta Chatty, Trees Nursery Attendant at Balingho Community Forest expressed similar sentiment, too.