Young Volunteers strive to protect environment, natural resources conservation

The climatic changes associated with the current trend of global warming are set to impact on The Gambia.

Young people are taking the initiative to fight and mitigate the root causes of disaster, climate change and use right-based approach in tackling the global phenomenon of environmental problems.

The impacts may come in many guises; floods, droughts, massive increase of vector and water borne diseases, rapid desertification and coastal erosion, and so on.

Engaging young people to address disaster risk is a critical element to any nation’s strategy.

Young people are key point of influence for other segments of society.

If citizens come to understand the risks involved and how they can play a role in reducing disaster risk, they can become an integral part of the solution.

The issue of environmental management and improvement should be a major concern to young people and they ought to play active roles in programmes and activities which improve environment such as recycling and community clean-ups.

Deforestation in The Gambia has been mainly a consequence of bush fires and illegal logging of trees.

Trees are extensively felled for firewood for commercial and domestic heating or as a raw material for the construction of fences, roofs and boats.

Trees are also burned to produce charcoal for heating, even though the practice has been legally banned in the country since 1980.

Forests are cleared for the extension or establishment of villages and cities.

Livestock breeding or rearing often calls for bush clearings and the cattle are often allowed to overgraze on marginal forested areas.

Certain forest zones are cleared for mining and extraction of sand and gravel.

Young people expressed concern about deforestation and it is of particular concern to those in rural areas which can be describe as deliberate burning of forested land and the felling of trees for charcoal and firewood and other illegal commercial logging.

 Young people believe that drought is primarily caused by local deforestation as the loss of trees affects the rainfall patterns, depletes local water sources, and contributes to a loss of soil moisture. Many around Africa especially in urban and peri-urban areas are particularly concerned about poor sanitation, waste management and pollution from vehicles and industry, which many view as the umbrella of pollution and also often see as overcrowding.

Plastic bags have also been littering the environment, especially in the past.