(Issue, Friday, 16 September 2016)
The
chairman of the Association of Wood Exporters and Forest Users in The Gambia,
who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of Munduk Trading Enterprise, Lamin
Barrow, has said his association will not compromise with any members of the
association who would want to make unnecessary exploitation on our forest
cover.
“We
need to respect our environment and be law-abiding, particularly in respect of
the Forest Act,” he said.
According
to Chairman Barrow, The Gambia has a lot of potential in terms of natural
resources, which the people should make good use of and utilize for the good of
the future generation.
“It
is therefore the responsibility of every single Gambian to ensure that you
plant a tree annually and to ensure its sustainability, which is very key,” he
said.
As
a result of the importance attached to the forest and its economic benefits, Mr
Barrow noted, his association deemed it very fitting to raise five hundred seedlings and donated
them to the Office of the Governor in West Coast region for onward distribution
to eight communities in Kombo South.
This
was part of their contribution towards national development as an association,
he said, adding that his association is established not only for profit-making
but also to complement government’s effort in national endeavours.
He
made this statement during the presentation of 500 seedlings to the office of
the Governor of West Coast Region for onward distribution to eight communities
in Kombo South.
Mr
Barrow said the association serves as a mediator between the people, the state
and other stakeholders, adding that since its inception, the association had
done a lot to regain the country’s forest cover.
According
to him, their participation in the massive tree planting exercise in the past
showed that “the association is out not only to benefit from the forest but
also to contribute their quota through replanting trees in the communities and
other strategic places”.
He
said the association had donated substantial amount of money to the department
of forestry to support the national tree planting exercise.
He
said the first plantation was at the Airport gateway, which they deemed
necessary considering the importance attached to the first point of entering
the country.
The
exercise, which was successfully implemented, was done in partnership with
Gambia Civil Aviation among other players, he said.
The
environment is something that needs to be respected by everyone, he further
said, adding: “I want every Gambian to understand the objective of this
association, and not to look at us as enemies of the forest.”
The
wood exporters’ chairman also thanked the security of the Department of
Forestry and foreign investors such as the Chinese for their mutual
understanding and operations in regulating the forest sector.
The
association has a taskforce that is working hard throughout the country across
the various checking points, he said.
He
advised all forest users to be law-abiding, “so that we can maintain the good
image of this country”.
Chairman
Barrow urged people to join the association, which is “the only way we can know
how the forest is used or exploited, and find solutions to problems”.
He
also thanked President Yahya Jammeh whom he described as a “pure Pan-Africanist
that has The Gambia and Africa at heart”.
