By: Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang
Towards the restoration of the ecosystem, the National Environment Agency (NEA) in collaboration with its GEF6 project has embarked on a massive community tree growing exercise within the project implementation community of Kolley Kunda village, Sami District, CRR.
This massive tree growing exercise was led by the Executive Director of NEA DODOU TRAWALLY, GEF6 Project Coordinator OUSAINOU TOURAY, NEA-DISN Njagga Touray, Alkalo and VDC members, Regional EBA project officer EBOU JANHA, and staff of Forestry Department.
The Government of The Gambia in collaboration with UNEP, is implementing the GEF-6 Landscapes/Seascapes Planning & Restoration project in the Gambia for a period of 5 years. On behalf of the Government of the Gambia, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is implementing the Project with the objective of improving the capacity of local communities in the prevention, mitigation and offsetting of negative impacts on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services.
The Project aims to create an enabling environment for the Gambia in building national capacity to lead the reform of land use and marine spatial planning policies and to implement land/seascape level management that conserves ecosystem services in productive and protected land/seascape.
The outcome of the project is expected to increase in protected areas coverage in the Kuntaur LGA, increase ecological connectivity between and within different priority biodiversity habitats by creating Indigenous Community Conserved Areas.
Addressing local communities and villagers, the Executive Director of the National Environment Agency reiterated that restoration of damaged ecosystems is becoming increasingly important because our planet will sustain an increasingly heavy human footprint as human populations continue to increase. This he said can improve our vegetation covers and enhance desirable ecological functioning. Dodou Trawally called on the villagers of Kolley Kunda and the surrounding communities to take ownership of the project and live to expectation.
According to the NEA`s Executive Director, both Kolley Kunda and Buduk villages will all benefit from the GEF6 project a modern Multi-Purpose training and skills Centre with the necessary infrastructure and facilities.
Adding on, the NEA boss called for the restoration of the disappearing vegetation cover of the region through planting of indigenous and utility trees as a token of heritage for the coming generations. With the reality of the fast approaching of the Sahara desert and the disappearing of the remaining vegetation cover, Dodou said restoration of vegetation covers become a compelling demand seeking for an integrated approach.
GEF6 Project coordinator Ousainou Touray urged the local community to jealously safe guard the newly planted trees for the benefits of the entire region and the country at large and gave assurance to support the village to improve the region’s tree population. Touray went further to informed them that government cannot do it all and theirs is an example of complementing government`s effort, while urging other communities within the project implementation area to emulate Kolley Kunda.
Furthermore, the Project Coordinator challenged all to make sure these newly nurtured trees are protected from the sharp mouths of domestic and other animals that may prey on the newly planted trees. He said trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe with; they reduce the amount of storm water runoff, and reduce erosion and pollution. Many species of wildlife animals, Touray said depends on trees for habitat while trees also provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals.