By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Chainsaw Owners Association of Jokadou on Sunday embarked on its maiden tree planting exercise in Jokaduin the North Bank Region by planting 200 tree seedlings. The association aims to lay down the chainsaw and focus on sustainable livelihood development.
The tree seedling planting initiative was conceived by the Jokadou chief Alpha Omar Khan to help strengthen the relationship between the Jokadu district tribunal and the communities to promote social cohesion.
Chief Khan described the restoration exercise as historic, noting that it demonstrated the association’s commitment to the protection, preservation and restoration of theenvironment.
He emphasized that tree felling is not the solution to sustainable livelihood development, recognizing that the formation of the association of chainsaw owners would contribute to the promotion of diversity. Chief Khan said the move will help to address the legal conflict betweenthe forestry department and chainsaw operators.
Omar Dumbiya of Memmeh, who is also the President of the Chainsaw Owners Association of Jokadou, thanked Chief Khan for his foresight in guiding and supporting the establishment of the association.
He disclosed that members were able to purchase 208 bags of fertilizer to support each member with eight bags to enhance food production and productivity.
He described the association as important, noting that 200tree seedlings were bought and transplanted.
President Dumbiya used the moment to call on NGOs and institutions to support them in terms of capacity development and resource mobilization to enablemembers to take up other sustainable livelihood paths.
Waggan Fam of Kerr Ngorr said the association has improved communication and mutual understanding on environmental matters. He called on other chainsaw operators to join, noting that it would help to ensure compliance and the protection of the forest cover.
The Governor of North Bank Region, Lamin Saidykhan,underscored the government’s commitment to restoration and protection of the forest cover, describing the move taken by the association as historic. He then called on members to be vigilant and steadfast in the protection of the fauna and flora. Governor Saidykhan noted that the restoration exercise would contribute greatly to theregeneration of the depleted forest cover.
He called on the masses to promote tree-planting effortsto mitigate the effects of climate change.