ENVIRONMENT: STATE OF ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS IN THE GAMBIA

Environmental data are obtained from administrative records, special surveys, censuses, reports, aerial maps, and satellite images.

The Central Statistics Department has the largest stock of social, economic and environment related data in the country. But since the NEA serves as the custodian of all environmental information, and serves as the coordinating Agency for all the Core Data Centres (i.e. Central Statistics Department, Department of Water Resources, Department of Lands and Survey, Soil and water Management Unit under the Department of Agriculture and Department of Planning), the Agency amongst others, made use of information from these government institutions. The first SOER made use of these sources to a large extent. Pure environment information were obtained from departments and organizations that specialized in the environmental issues concerned.

Maps:

Traditionally, maps have been an important source of environmental information. Maps are either topographic (showing physical features and their location) or thematic (depicting specific application such as soils and based on a topographic base). In The Gambia, the Department of Lands and Surveys is the agency mandated to produce and maintain topographic maps.

In addition to this, different agencies do produce thematic maps in their respective areas of application. This is because such institutions are mandated to collect the data depicted in such maps. The Soil and Water Management Unit of The State Department for Agriculture, for instance, produces soil maps as the institution mandated to collect and manage soil data.

Documents and Reports:

These are non-graphics data produced to highlight a particular subject or phenomena. Almost all institutions in The Gambia produce some form ofdocument or report for different thematic analyses for planning and management.

Aerial photographs:

A large collection of aerial photographs exists on the Gambia dating back to 1945. In fact since this date a new photography of national coverage has been produced at least once every decade. This forms a good source of spatial data on which change analyses over time can be made. In particular, the photographs, flown in late 1994, serve as a good basis for national mapping exercises or the revision of existing maps. A most recent completed project funded by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) in 2000, under the focal point of the Department of State for Lands and Survey has produced aerial photographs of the whole country.

Satellite imagery:

Satellite imagery is not currently widely used in the Gambia for environmental management and monitoring of natural resources. This is probably due to the high cost of satellite images, the relevant equipment and the technology it employs. For this reason, the collection of satellite data in the Gambia is currently very small. However, it is understood that the Department of Water resources does have the capacity to receive METEOSAT data.

Data Themes:

The type of environmental data collected and managed in the Gambia is very wide. These can however be broadly categorized into the following themes and sources:

DATA THEMEDATA DESCRIPTIONFORMATINSTITUTION

Soil Soil association Maps DL&S, DF, USAID, SWMU

Geology Geological data Maps and reports Geology Unit

Land use Different land use maps and Documents Maps and photo maps DF, DL&S, USAID DPPH

Vegetation Forests, range lands and parks Maps DF, DL&S, USAID

Water Resources Hydrology Reports and documents (computerized) DWR

Agriculture Statistical data Documents (computerized) DAS

Livestock Animal population, distribution prices & health Reports DL&S

Fisheries Frame survey Reports Dept. of Fisheries

Wildlife Wildlife species Reports DP & WL

Energy Use of firewood Reports GREC

Meteorology Rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind Documents and reports DWR

Health Health statistics Reports DOSH

Population Topographic maps Reports Dept. of Central Stat.

Topography Aerial photos Maps, photo maps and orthophotos DL & S

Aerial Photography Aerial photos Aerial photos DL & S

Industries Industries and their locations Reports DOSTIE

National Economy National accounts, prices & statistics Report Dept. of Central Stats.

While some of these data are freely available, others are provided at a cost. These include maps and aerial photographs.

SIGNIFICANT CONSTRAINTS TO EFFECTIVE DATA COLLECTION AND SHARING:

Lack of appropriate and adequate equipment to measure loadings in the environment and preparation of ecological maps.

Lack of skilled personnel, in particular, at the GIS Unit of CSD and NEA; financial and technical resources (limited computerization), to collect, interpret and report environmental data.

Lack of funds to conduct surveys at regular intervals for updates.

Low level of standardized and compatibility of data sets, and systems interoperability.

Lack of coordination in data collection, especially between line departments and specialized institutions.

Low awareness level among communities and institutions concerning environmental issues.

Inadequate training of field workers (enumerators and supervisors).

FUTURE PLANS FOR ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS

NEA plans to mobilize funds in order to prepare, publish and disseminate the second State of The Environment Report of The Gambia.

The CSD plans to mobilize funds to build the capacity of its Environment Statistics Unit. The unit will use the framework that would be prepared by this workshop. Some modifications will be made in the framework to incorporate national and sub-regional concerns and data needs.

Develop and implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CSD and the NEA in order to link the environment unit to the NEA’s inter-sectoral network coordination.

Develop and implement strategies to put the CSD Environment Statistics Unit and NEA EIS Programme on a sound sustainable footing.

The Environment Statistics Unit of CSD and NEA EIS Programme should use existing databases and surveys to obtain further relevant and temporal information on the environment.

NEA EIS Programme Centre needs to update existing Environmental Information data sets such as the Landuse / Landcover, Soils, Administrative maps and Aerial Photographs.