The move, they believe would also help ongoing efforts to protect the country’s vast hectares of forest from illegal human activities. The Gambia is part of global climate solutions with environmental activists making calls for forest management to combat climate change through tree planting and greening initiatives.
It could be recalled that a Resolution was passed by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 November 2013, to set aside the 21st day of March as the International Day of Forests.
Thus, the theme for this year’s celebration dubbed: ‘Forest and health', seeks to highlight the importance of protecting forest covers in combating climate change and contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations.
According to the FAO report in 2022, through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), 4,000 cooking stoves were distributed to 2,000 households in rural Gambia to reduce forest degradation.
“This was done to strengthen and expand community forestry and the implementation of sustainable forest management practices. The Food and Agricultural Organisation and implementing partners rehabilitated 5 Regional Forest Nurseries with Multipurpose houses. 250 Nursery beds were also constructed, and over 800 forest community members were sensitized and assisted in the natural regeneration and other agro-forestry management best practices. 34,700 Seedlings were also distributed and 29 gazettes were developed to Notice Level.” the report added.
On the celebration of World Forest Day, FAO revealed that countries and activists can reconcile the special and noticeable interdependence between human and forest, and end the indiscriminate burning and felling of trees.
The World Forest Day, they believe, could therefore help to amplify public awareness on issues of concern and to mobilise political will and resources to address deforestation as a global concern.
Experts also believe that despite the mutual relationship between humans and trees, numerous human activities like deforestation contribute about 30% to carbon dioxide emissions.
“Deforestation led to the disappearance of millions of trees over the years, hence the need to promote and support afforestation and greening initiatives for a better environment.”
