By: Haruna Kuyateh
National Alliance for Agroecology Gambia (NAAG) a civil society organization and partners recently held an anti-bush fire campaign and management for Jokadou National Park at Kuntairand training on Gender-responsive Budgeting and planning for the beneficiary of Nuimi National Park at Kanuma of Lower Nuimi in the north bank region.
NAAG headed by Action Aid International the Gambia in collaboration with the Department of Park and Wildlife Management DPWM with funding from Wetland International Dakar Office held the training under the Management of mangrove forests from Senegal to Benin to enhance resilience to climate change.
Pateh Sisay, Manager of Jokadou National Park described the training as important, noting that it would help promote social mobilization in fire management and control. He disclosed that the Jokadou National Park land area is over 19,000ha and hailed the site management committee and cluster communities for their support and collaboration in protecting natural resources. He uses the moment to thank the communities around the park for their constant support in the protection of the park against bush fire over the years.
Chief Alpha Mariam Khan of Jokadou thanked the National Alliance on Agroecology Gambia NAAG for the foresight and noted that all hands have to be on deck to ensure that the park is fully protected against all forms of illegal activities. He notes that bushfire is a threat to the preservation and enhanced regeneration of depleted mangroves and tree species. Chief Khan uses the moment to call on communities to create fire belts around the park and desist from the illegal burning of natural resources.
Basiru Manneh the lead facilitator noted that training participants from Nuimi National Park on integrated quality in gender-responsive budgeting, sex-disaggregated public expenditure, planning, and budgeting all would enhance participatory planning. ‘’Gender-responsive budgeting and planning is crucial in accelerating national response of empowering women and to effectively participate in decision making,’’ Manneh added.
Sarjo Manneh, Manager of Nuimi National Park described training beneficiaries on gender-responsive budgeting as crucial in promoting management and monitoring of activities by women and youths to ensure protected marine resources are safeguarded.
Essa Joof site management committee of Mbolet Ba and NyimaKeita of Kanuma assured of their commitment to the development and protection of the park. The duo hailed the management of the park for their commitment to all-inclusive protection and reporting of illegal activities.
