By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly has adopted the report of Parliament’s select committee on environment, sustainable development, and NGO affairs on the oversight tour of forests, parks, and borehole projects across the country.
Speaking during the presentation of the report by the Vice-chairperson of the committee, Honourable Essa Conteh said that there should be a stronger emphasis on community and Joint-Participatory Forestry Management. And private investors should also be strongly encouraged to invest in private forestry.
He said the University of The Gambia should introduce courses at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels on Forestry Management, Parks and Wildlife Management, and Natural Resources Management to build the capacity of foresters, parks and wildlife managers.
According to him, an environmental and social impact assessment must be conducted before the issuance of a license to hunting-as-a-game sites. Also, adequate resources must be mobilized to provide resources for forestry, parks, and wildlife management.
Hon. Conteh stated that such equipment must include surveillance drones, protective gear, and mobility. Wild and large animals such as lions, giraffes, elephants, etc should be purchased for the Department of Parks and Wildlife. “This shall generate substantial revenue to the sector, instead of giving forests areas for rice or other agricultural production, eroded lands should be revitalized for agricultural use.
“Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources should partner with the Ministry of Interior and Defence to adequately police the forest”, he outlined
Furthermore the Department of Physical Planning, Local Authorities, youth groups, and Natural Resources should partner with the Ministry of Interior and Defence for this task.
The committee observed that most of the boreholes under the 10 million Dalasi project have been drilled but incomplete as the water tanks are not erected. Some of the boreholes, such as in Angalfuta in Bansang were situated very close to a residential area and less than 40 meters from a bathroom.
However, he said the Department of Physical Planning, Local Authorities, youth groups, and traditional leaders from areas surrounding the Abuko Nature Reserve must be engaged to curb the incursion on the parks and identify permanent settlements for youth playing grounds. He added that all boreholes under the D10,000,000 project must be completed within three months.
“Appropriations should be made to dig more boreholes, particularly to rural communities, in order to meet global targets. All the boreholes must be situated in locations that are not posing any health risks to its beneficiaries”, he reported.
“This violates the health recommendation in the digging of a borehole” he stressed.
