Lamin
Queen Jammeh, Governor of North Bank Region (NBR), has challenged all district
chiefs and village heads in his region to support all activities geared towards
proper environmental management, in a bid to achieve the best from the land use
and land management for the benefit of the citizenry.
He
encouraged all to take up forest management seriously and protect the
environment for today and future generations.
Governor
Queen Jammeh made these remarks while presiding over the opening meeting of the
regional capitalisation seminar of Regional Programme for Sustainable Land
Management and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Sahel and West Africa, held
recently in Kerewan.
The
stakeholders’ convergence was to take stock of achievements, shortfalls,
successes, lessons learnt and incorporate these into future projects.
The 27-month project, which has come to it
final terminal activity, was coordinated by Emanic Consulting Co limited and
sponsored by CILSS.
The
project activities covered the entire North Bank Region, and had the following
components: community forest, woodlots, private forests, joint forest park
management, agriculture through market analysis and development, soil
improvement using dykes and cattle tracks.
Governor
Queen Jammeh extended his sentiments to all project beneficiaries and sponsors.
who contributed in one way or the other to the successful implementation of the
project in the North Bank Region.
He
also expressed his satisfaction in the way the Emanic Consulting firm
administered the funds of the project, which, he said, needs emulation.
The
Governor highlighted the way the Emanic Consulting won the contract from CILSS
for implementing, and the ways the project operate in his region.
According
to him, the project operation was in line with government strategy and
programmes.
Governor
Queen Jammeh challenged the beneficiary communities to take up the project
programmes seriously, and execute its activities to the utmost of their
ability.
He
also told the communities that the success or failure of the project depends
solely on their immense contribution and determination.
He
cited Bakindic as an example in his region for their unique outstanding work in
forest management and project implementation.
In
his welcome remarks, the Regional forestry officer at NBR, Ebou Janha,
commended the NBR project beneficiaries for their active participation during
the implementation of the project.
He said now that the project has come to it
final stage, the convergence was very important as the purpose was to
evaluate the level of the implementation of programmes
executed during its life span
through the support of the departments of Forestry and Livestock under the
Ministry of Agriculture, and so on.
He
advised the beneficiaries to take ownership of the project to ensure its
sustainability in the North Bank Region.
He
thanked the Cona-CILLSS and Emanic Consulting for piloting the project in the
North Bank Region, “which has greatly impacted positively” on the improvement
of the livelihood of the beneficiaries.
