By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Regional Forestry Conflict Resolution Association (RFCRA) in collaboration with district authorities has renewed calls to ban Charcoal Production across Kombo East District.
This development comes as a result of threats to the nation’s forest cover culminating in the negative impact of climate change that the country is facing prompting the immediate ban on Charcoal Production in Kombo East effective 30th October 2022.
Lamin Jammeh, President Regional Forestry Conflict Resolution Association (RFCRA) disclosed that the move to ban charcoal production in Kombo East is due to the growing destruction of the forest through the burning of charcoal, noting that the decision involved wider consultation among the district village heads, Chief and the village department committees.
According to him, since 1977, Charcoal Production has been banned in the country with the view to protecting the nation’s forest cover, arguing that the failure of the state to implement the law has gravitated to the burning of wood and trees for charcoal production.
“We thank the chief of Kombo east and his people for understanding the laws of this country regarding Charcoal Production in the country that has been officially banned since 1977. We are grateful to both the Chief, village heads, and the VDCs for agreeing to come out with full support for the banning of charcoal burning in the district effective on the 3Oth of October 2022,” Lamin Jammeh, President RFCRA revealed.
He added: “Among the measures, we planned to put in place is to engage four people in each community in Kombo East to monitor and report any act of charcoal production in their villages. We also planned to engage in sensitization activities that will raise the awareness of the local populace on the dangers of charcoal production on the forest cover of the country.”
According to him, with this decision and agreement, no one will be allowed to burn charcoal in Kombo East District, adding that each village in the district has already identified four (4) people to be monitoring and reporting anyone engaged in charcoal production within their communities.
Jammeh further disclosed that his Association has also partnered with Women Initiative Gambia (WIG) to effect training women and other charcoal producers on new skills in charcoal production, adding that this training which is expected to kick off in December, will allow charcoal producers to use dry leaves, grasses and dry woods to make charcoal instead of indiscriminately falling trees for charcoal production.
He called on all and sundry to emulate the decision reached by Kombo East that is designed to protect the nation’s forest cover from exploitation and destruction while calling on the government and department of forestry to come forth and implement the law banning charcoal production in the country. When contacted, Lamin Bajo, Regional Forestry Director, West Coast Region (WCR) confirmed the decision taken at Kombo East but declined to make any further comment on the move.
