By: Haruna Kuyateh
Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) with support from Wetland International has recently planted over 63,000 mangroves to mitigate food security and climate change in Nuimi North Bank Region.
The planting of the mangroves is part of the two-year activities of a project called Integrated Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration and Management in Nuimi and Jokadu National Parks.
Speaking to The Voice in Dasilami, Alasan Bah Project Officer responsible for mangroves restoration at ADWAC underscored the importance of working with communities irrespective of social status to work towards the restoration of mangroves and enhance ecosystem management.
He said the overall target of the project is to restore 50ha of land along the wetland targeting communities of Sittanunku, Aljamdu, Lamen, and Bafuloto of Upper Nuimi, Bakang, and Dasilami of Jokadou in the North Bank Region.
However, the agency planted over 63,000 mangroves on 9ha of land along the Jokadou Dasilami wetland, and all these are attributed to the community’s resolve to the restoration of mangroves propagules, as depleted mangroves cover affected lives and livelihood of the inhabitants.
Mr. Bah disclosed that the project is working toward meeting its target, citing 35ha of land has been restored and thanked all stakeholders including the Department of Parks and Wildlife, and staff from Jokadou and Nuimi National Parks for their unflinching contribution towards building communities consciousness on the restoration of mangroves.
Manka Manneh, Women Leader of Jokadou Dasilami described the restoration of mangroves as significant, and disclosed that the involvement of the Association of Food and Environment Security (AFES), a Community-Based Organisation in Dasilamiand ADWAC contributed immensely to an increase in fish availability and affordability.
She noted that rice cultivation has started in areas that are severely affected by salinity. She assured them of women’s fullest support towards the survival of the mangrove restoration to mitigate the effect of climate change.