The training brought together village forest committee members and community stakeholders to raise awareness on the devastating effects of bush fires and deforestation, while equipping participants with practical skills to prevent and respond to fire outbreaks.
Speaking at the event, Sulayman M.S. Gangne, Head of Information and Data Management Unit and focal point at the Department of Forestry, said the initiative seeks to strengthen community participation in forest preservation.
“Protecting our forests should be a collective responsibility. Everyone should see himself or herself as a forestry officer in their community,” he stated.
Mr. Gangne revealed that statistics over the years indicate that LRR records the highest rate of bush fires in The Gambia, noting that the training is expected to help reduce the alarming trend.
He further disclosed that the department plans to plant over three million seedlings across various forestry areas before the end of the year, stressing that “when there are no trees, there will be no life.”
Governor of LRR, Seedy Lamin Bah, called for attitudinal change among Gambians in protecting community forests. He urged communities not to wait for government intervention before responding to bush fires.
“It is the responsibility of villagers to act swiftly whenever fire breaks out in order to prevent destruction of the environment,” he said.
The governor also encouraged communities to create fire belts around forest areas during the dry season as a preventive measure against bush fires.
Officials from the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services and the regional forestry office also highlighted the dangers of bush burning, warning that fires threaten lives, livelihoods and socio-economic development.
They urged participants to share the knowledge gained with their respective communities to strengthen nationwide efforts in protecting forests and the environment.
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