GEPADG, Regional Forestry Office embark on tree planting

Gunjur Environmental Protection and Development Group (GEPADG), in collaboration with the Regional Forestry Office in Brikama in the West Coast Region, recently embarked on a massive tree planting exercise at Gunjur Bolong-Fenyotoo.

Speaking to reporters during the exercise, the director of GEPADG, Badara N. Bajo, said the group was founded in 1992 as an association and since then they have been contributing immensely towards the development of forestry and environment.

Mr Bajo told the gathering that his association organised a first-ever national conference on environment at community level in 1998, where stakeholders and policymakers were invited from across the country and the conference came out with fifteen page resolution.

According to Mr Bajo, the objective of the tree planting is to encourage the sustainable use of natural resource through community-based management.

Mr Bajo also expressed delight at the role of the media for their massive contribution of coverage to the exercise, describing the media as key component in society.

He commended the WWF through the GEF World Bank Funded Project for funding the Gunjur community wildlife reserve project, which is the first community wildlife reserve in the country.

For his part, Babucarr Bajie, senior forestry officer, expressed delight at the cooperation of members of the Gunjur-based environmental group, who participated effectively during the course of the exercise.

Mr Badjie challenges the community of Gunjur to take care of the trees in their area from which they can derive immense benefit in future.

He also reiterated his department’s willingness in promoting and developing Gambian forests.