The illegal act of setting our forest cover on fire has a serious consequence and is a serious problem in many developing countries and The Gambia is not an exception.
Annually, illegal bushfires account for a significant loss to our forest covers and its disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.
The consequences are many and severe not only to nature, but also to people and animals that rely on grass in the bush for their survival.
The ugly practice has put the country's efforts to conserve our fast depleting flora and fauna population to a standstill.
Illegally setting forest on fires still occurs in many parts of the country, while those behind the acts are nowhere to be traced most of the time.
In most cases, bushfires have resulted in communities losing livelihoods - farm produce, while leaving uncountable animals starving.
Communities have a great role to play in the management of their forest reserves. Change of attitudes is also needed to preserve our remaining forest cover.
Taking full ownership of our forest cover will significantly boost and reserve our biodiversity population.
We need to intensify more community outreach programmes and sensitisation activities to address these illegal bushfires.
We thus encourage every Gambian to participate in any anti-bush fire campaign to restore the country’s lost glory.
Bush fires can be serious and, if not addressed adequately, can cause a big problem for our rural settlers, and the country as a whole.
It is a fact that some bush fires are not caused naturally, but either by cigarette smokers inadvertently or bad elements or even people searching for honey.
The need to preserve our environment is very important, and there should be no compromise for those found wanting in creating the menace.
We also encourage our farmers to create bushfire belts in their communities, to prevent their houses and farm produce from being consumed by bush fires, when they occur.
We urge the public to report anyone found to be engaged in the practice of starting bushfires.
Implementing these measures would no doubt go a long way toward addressing the menace of bush fires in our country.
Finally, we urge people to change their attitudes in dealing with fire in our homes to avoid more disasters.
Fire it is said, is a good servant but a bad Master.