Other stakeholders that participated in the tree planting exercise included Tour guides in Wassu, visiting students from the University of Illinois in United States of America, Njawara community and women of Njaw led by Isatou Ceesay.
Over six hundred varieties of trees were planted with technical support from the Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) project. The exercise was funded by NCAC and Kuntaur Area Council.
The tree planting exercise was used as a way of heritage conservation by planting around the heritage site and also at the buffer zone as Wassu Stones Circle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hassoum Ceesay, director general of the National Centre for Arts and Culture said the planted trees around the UNESCO World Heritage Site would serve as a green belt against bush fire since the stone circles are located in an area prone to bush fire in Wassu.
He added that it would also help to minimise the effect of bush fire on the stones, saying “there are lots of pressures on land in and around Wassu and other parts of The Gambia.”
With these planted trees, he said the buffer zone would not only be fully protected from encroachment but also strengthen the community participation in the management and conservation of the Wassu Stones Circles.
DG Ceesay said among other tasks is to make sure the trees are well protected to allow the Wassu Stones Circle and the environment become a green zone, protect the site and also conserve it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
