The
National Environment Agency (NEA) recently conducted a consultative forum with
stakeholders on coastal and marine management and planning.
Speaking
at the meeting held at Coodeh Pinal, the NEA director of inter-sectoral network
of coastal and marine said it is part of the agency’s 2012-2017 strategic
programme to have a facilitation and consultation platform with coastal
stakeholders in The Gambia.
Momodou
Jamal Suwareh said the aim of the forum is information sharing, consultation
and planning in relation to coastal management.
The
forum was also to strengthen dialogue between actors on national environmental
issues about building a permanent framework for consultation and exchange on
coastal and marine environment management.
Mr
Suwareh said The Gambia government has incorporated in Vision 2020 development
programmes for the conservation and rational used of the nation’s natural
resources and the environment for the benefit of the present and future
generations.
“Vision
2020 is harmonised with The Gambia government action plan and other natural
sector polices as well as multi-lateral environmental agreements,” he said.
The
senior NEA official pointed out that the coastal zone of The Gambia is most
economical active area in the area of tourism, fisheries and sand mining for
constructions.
However,
due to the low-line nature of the coastal land areas and the combined effects
of climate change, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and salt intrusion, have
threatened and in some cases damaged the valuable structures of the
environment, over the years.
These
problems, he said, NEA of The Gambia government alone would not be able to
tackle it and that is why there is need to collaborate with other development
partners and the sub-region as a whole.
