By: Kemo Kanyi
The National Environment Agency (NEA), through its GEF-6 project unit, has handed over a project worth D15 million to various beneficiaries in the Central River Region on Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 October 2024, respectively.
GEF-6, land and seascape Planning and Ecosystem Restoration project is aimed at improving ecosystem services and livelihoods, expanding and effectively managing protected areas.
The project built a twelve meter tall watchtower at the River Gambia National Park in Sambel Kunda, an Eco-Tourism Lodge at Bush Town, an office and residential building at Lamin Koto Navy Post, and a Courtroom for the Chief of Wassu. These structures were constructed at a tune of D15, 000, 000.00.
Ousainou Touray, the coordinator of land and seascape planning and ecosystem restoration project (GEF-6) under the National Environment Agency, signified the importance of dilapidated ecosystem.
“The project is meant to support biodiversity conservation and to also support the restoration of dilapidated ecosystems around CRR. Trying to improve biodiversity, we designed some infrastructures to enhance the effort of biodiversity conservation. An amount of D15 million was spent in total,” he stated.
He advised the beneficiaries to take good care of the structures for its longevity.
Dr. Dawda Badjie, the Executive Director of the National Environment Agency, stated that it’s the responsibility of the current generation to protect nature for the future.
“Our role as the current generation is to protect and build the future for the next generation by taking environmental protection measures. This is one of the ideas behind the construction of the navy post at Lamin Koto so that the navy would be able to spot and deter fishermen from bad fishing practices,” he asserted.
He added that fishing should be cautiously done for the protection of juvenile fish in the sea.
Farra Jobe, Naval Commanding Officer of Lamin Koto Naval out-post, said the intervention of the NEA/GEF-6 project as one of the stakeholders supporting the navy is highly appreciated by The Gambia Armed Forces because it’s going to help and protect them from various difficulties faced.
“We used to have sleeping challenges and this affected the morale of some of our with regards to mosquito bites, and other difficulties. This structure is one of the best we have,” he stated during the handing ceremony at Lamin Koto Navy Post.
He solicited support from other supportive bodies to come to the aid of the navy for easy implementation of their job.
Bilal Khan, representative for Parks and Wildlife in CRR, said the Sambel Kunda watchtower can be used as a research centre for anyone who wants to know about the River Gambia National Park and for tourism attraction.
“There are chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, hippopotamus, and other wildlife that are very attractive to tourists and citizens in the River Gambia National Park,” he mentioned.
Ousman Bah, Governor of CRR North, Lamin Jabbie, the Alkalo of Lamin Koto village, and Mamudou Kanyi, a village elder, all expressed appreciation for the gesture by the NEA/GEF-6 project.