Over 5,000 trees planted in WCR

Partners in the integration project for the restoration of the
forest in the cross-border area of Southern Senegambia
platform, in collaboration with the Community of Penyem
and Jakoi Sibirik over the weekend planted over 5000 trees.
The community of Penyem planted over 3,000 varieties of
trees at the Penyem community forest in Kombo Central,
while Jakoi Sibirik, in Foni Bintang Karanai planted 2,000
trees in their community forest.
The integration project for the restoration of the forest is a
mini-project funded by the Australian Development Agency,
with support from Enda Diapol, an NGO based in Dakar
Senegal.
Casa Gambia Cross Border Association implements the
project, in partnership with All Gambia Forest Platform, the
Shepherd and Cattle Owners Association and Saint
Joseph's Family Farms Centre.
The Jakoi Sibirik Project is also funded by the Global
Environmental Facility (GEF) project, under the Small
Grants Programme of UNDP, which aimed at restoring the
forest and the environment.
The president of the integration project for the restoration of
the forest in the cross-border area of Southern Senegambia
platform, Dawda Sonko underscored the importance of the
project, saying it aims to strengthen unity between The
Gambia and Senegal, through sharing of common goals in
the protection of the natural resources in their border areas.
He explained that the joint project would focus on the
restoration of the forest cover along The Gambia and
Senegal border areas, while in the other part of Guinea-
Bissau and Senegal it will target combating cattle rustling.
A senior forestry officer at the WCR forestry office, Babucarr
Badjie and his Senegalese counterpart, Joseph Assil of
Dioloulou Casamance, both called on the village to take
ownership of the planted trees for the benefit of future
generations.
The secretary of the Casa Gambia Cross Border
Association's Sub-committee, Lamin Jarju and Paul Habib
Sanyang, the project coordinator commended the villagers
for their massive turnout and for embracing the initiative.
At Jakoi Sibirik, chairman of the village development
committee, Musa Gibba said the exercise calls for the
planting of more trees, in order to rehabilitate the lost forest
cover.
The National Assembly member for Foni Bintang Karanai,
Ebrima Solo Jammeh stressed the need for people to protect
the forest cover for future generations. He then called on
other communities to emulate the Jakoi Sibirik initiative, so
as to reduce the negative impacts of environmental
degradation.
The Chairman of Brikama Area Council, Bakary Saibo
Sanneh described the forest, as a key element in the
development of the nation. According to him, the forest
cover has been deforested in the country.