Mama A. Touray
The Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) on Wednesday raised an eyebrow at the alleged illegal logging of trees in Kaiaf.
In a shared statement with this medium on Wednesday, June 7 2023 Gambia Environmental Alliance stated in it that the community forest of Kaiaf has fallen victim to a catastrophic event which they described as devastating and illegal destruction of both mature and young forest trees for the production of charcoal and firewood. The people of Kabada are alleged of this act.
The statement stated that “This outrageous incident has resulted in the irreversible loss of over 2 kilometers of precious forest trees. Shockingly, an estimated twenty trips of tractors have already been loaded with timber, with more yet to be extracted from the Kaiaf forest”.
Adding that GEA cannot remain silent in the face of this environmental tragedy, as community forests are the lifeblood of the ecosystem, providing clean air, wildlife habitats, and natural beauty.
The rampant and unchecked destruction of these vital resources according to Gambia Environmental Alliance will not only rob future generations of their rightful heritage but also exacerbates the already pressing issue of climate change.
“It is high time that we demand swift and decisive action. We urge the responsible authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this alarming incident, hold the perpetrators accountable, and implement stringent measures to prevent further exploitation of our cherished forests. We call upon the government, environmental organizations, and concerned citizens to unite and voice their outrage against this abhorrent act” GEA urged.
It stated further that together, differences can be made to protect the invaluable natural treasures for generations to come and urged Gambians to stand up, raise their voices, and demand justice for Kaiaf!
However, the statement revealed that Hon. Yayah Gassama, Chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee for Environment, was appalled when he received this distressing information.
