The UN Biodiversity Conference was originally scheduled to take place from 15-28 October 2020, in Kunming, China, but was postponed several times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. After close consultation among the Government of China as COP President, the Bureau, the Secretariat and the Government of Canada as host of the Secretariat, it has been decided that the second part of the meetings will take place at the seat of the Secretariat, in Montreal, Canada from the 7-19 December 2022.
Modou Sowe is the founder of the GANB, an idea siphoned from the United States from two US Peace Corps from the Gambia that established a farm to promote organic farming and biodiversity.
In an interview, Sowe expressed his commitment to the protection of Nature and Biodiversity, adding that he was motivated by Elizabeth and Paul Kaiser’s Singing Frog’s Farm in Sebastapol, California.
“The farm supports biodiversity and nature with the best products for human consumption. According to him, these are the types of ideas needed by our farmers to support biodiversity and mother earth from the negative effects of climate change.”
Quizzed as to his involvement in series of protests geared toward protecting the nature especially, Monkey Park in Bijilo, he made it clear that he has no issue with the constructions of either the OIC Conference centre or the US Embassy office in The Gambia.
“The government could have done better by allocating lands that will not affect one of the greatest homes for biodiversity in the Gambia. In 2018 a portion of the park was destroyed to construct a conference center. The whole park came under threat when the entire area lost its status as a reserve. The Monkey Park is home to many species of trees and since 2018, 112 Mahogany Trees, 15 Baobabs, 10 Silk Cotton Trees, 10 Palm Trees, 40 Kaba plants, and 2 Locust Bean Trees have been planted! This is a fantastic step towards helping the monkeys as many used to leave the park to go scavenging in residential areas, due to the lack of trees, resulting in them getting hit by cars when crossing the highway.”
The park, he added, continues to be the main source of tourist attraction in the country, pointing out that, the sector contributes over 20% of the GDP making it the highest contributor.
“We will continue to join the National Environmental Alliance in the protest against the destruction of nature because that is what we stand for. It is clear to every Gambian that GANB is here to promote the protection of nature and biodiversity, especially in agriculture. The Monkey park is the most bio-diverse environment in the country and its protection is our concern.”
About GANB
The Gambia Association for Nature and Biodiversity was established for the conservation of the country’s biodiversity including plants, animals, marine life, and microbial and genetic resources for food production, agriculture, and the ecosystem.
Through biodiversity conservation, the country would be able to help address the effects of climate change e.g. mangroves and other coastal ecosystems can lessen the disastrous impacts of climate change such as flooding and storm surges.
While in the US, he developed keen interest in the area and following the successful completion of his studies in the USA, he specialised in no-till organic farming.
Sowe is now devoting his career to advocating and awareness creating on nature and biodiversity. No-till organic farming is a system of farming that supports and promotes biodiversity while promoting healthy food production for economic development.
