By: Haruna Kuyateh
4H Gambia, a local NGO, with funding from European Union EU Global Climate Change Alliance GCCA + Climate Resilient Coastal & Marine Zone project dubbed as Restoration of Dobo Forest Park, Friday commenced a four days tree nursery preparation and management techniques.
The training brought together 16 youths drawn from 8 communities managing Dobo Forest Park, and it is holding at Kerr Sheikh Taal in Central Badibou of North Bank Region.
Momodou A Jallow Project Manager at 4H Gambia said the training is keys to the attainment of project objective. He noted that training on tree nursery management for youths, aimed to harness their understanding on the need to raise awareness and contribute to restoration and preservation of Dobo Joint Forest Park. The skills would enhance human resource development on methods and techniques of preparing nursery and management.
Jallow noted that the active participation of youths, would contribute to restoration of forest cover on the farmland.
Haruna Kuyateh on behalf of Regional Technical Advisory Committee TAC thanked 4H Gambia and Regional Forestry Office in Kerewan for their steadfastness of creating more public awareness on environmental protection.
Mr Kuyateh noted that the training youths on nursery preparation and management techniques, would provide source of income and by extension enhance agro forestry practices to boost soil nutrients.
The restoration of Dobo Forest Park by 4H Gambia in collaboration with Forestry and management of park, demonstrated commitment to the overall development of forest to mitigate effect of climate change.
Pierre R Colley lead trainer from Forestry described the training as significant for youths within the beneficiaries’ communities, noting that it would promote planting of indigenous trees species.
The training was centred on site selection, accessibility, types of nursery, location, local Climate, water supply and availability of soil for plotting mixture. He said empowering of farmers on seed beds and management would contribute to timely planting, reduce cost and enhance survival rate of planted trees.
Momodou Jallow President of Dobo Joint Forest Park Management lauded the intervention of the 4H Gambia, NEA, Department of Forestry and EU Global Climate Change Alliance GCCA for the restoration of park and capacity enhancement. He called on youths to make best use of the opportunity provided and establish more tree nursery within Central Badibou.