The Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA), a coalition of environmental civil society organizations, environmentalists and community stakeholders, has emphasised the need to protect the environment against the abuse of forest covers, wetlands, and nature reserves.
These remarks were made in response to ongoing industrial activities by GACH Global, which is allegedly utilizing a portion of reserved land for industrial purposes deemed environmentally unfriendly by many concerned citizens.
With increasing demands for housing and industrial activities, many forest areas in The Gambia are vulnerable to deforestation, posing a significant threat of environmental degradation. The Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) emphasised the necessity of protecting the natural ecosystem, viewing such practices of infrastructural expansion as detrimental to environmental preservation.
“We focus on the illegal encroachment of forest reserves, unregulated sand mining, and the urgent need for robust policy enforcement to combat deforestation and protect large forest parks, which serve as vital green spaces. Our forests are no longer safe, as the growing demand for land by real estate agents poses significant threats. Without strict measures, deforestation is likely to escalate,” says Muhammed Hydara, Secretary General of GEA.
Similarly, on 19 September 2024, part of Abuko Nature Reserve was reserved for industrial activities by the Minister of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs, Hamat N.K. Bah. This decision attracted heavy criticism from the public.
Recently, Salagi Forest Park became the next target for private business interests, which contradicts the Banjul Declaration of 1977. This declaration so famously championed by Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the first president of The Gambia aimed to raise awareness about the need to protect The Gambia’s rapidly vanishing fauna and flora.
During a courtesy visit by the GEA and other relevant stakeholders at Salagi Forest Park, Lamin Samateh, of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) and the Agency’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) lead was asked if he considered granting Provisional Environmental Approval to GACH Global as permission to cut down trees for the project. Mr Samateh clarified: “Cutting down trees and conducting ground works at the project site before an application refers only to the old quarry and does not pertain to virgin lands cleared by GACH Global, as observed during the visit.”
GEA Secretary General Muhammed Hydara thus calls for collective responsibility in safeguarding the country’s fauna and flora. He advised the government to prioritize environmental protection in national development plans and promote eco-friendly practices.
The situation at Salagi Forest Park underscores the urgent need for improved coordination among stakeholders, adherence to environmental protocols, and respect for community input in project planning.
The park’s importance to the Sukuta community and its ecological value demand a balanced approach to development, ensuring sustainability for future generations.
