Forestry The Gambia

Director of Department of Forestry LT Col Salifu Corr has advised his Department Revenue collectors to distances themselves from issuing the Department Royalties to Timber dealer who cannot produce ortentic Documents for their Timbers from Gambia and outside the Gambia

Director of Department of Forestry LT Col Salifu Corr and his entire senior officials has embarked on 10 days nationwide tour in the length and breadth of the country. The First day of the tour is to have a meeting with Regional Authorities, District Authorities, Forestry Regional Staff and Community Forest communities snd during the meeting he handed over ten certificates of appreciation to ten community forest communities to tell them thank you for their efforts. The second day is tree planting exercise with Authorities in one of the most outstanding CF within the region in to address deforestation and land degradation in the Gambia

Director urge each and every Gambians to plant a tree either in the forest or at home in order to address deforestation and land degradation for better agricultural benefits and also environmental benefits

Youth hour FT Sulayman MS Jagne of forestry communication & extension Banjul office

The Technical Unit staff (Omar Sidibeh..TU Head n Salagi forest station staff) with support of the Sukuta Youths ,Red Cross members and VDC conducted massive tree planting exercises at Salagi forest Park.
This year planting turned out is overwhelming with the participation of Action -Oriented National Assembly Member of Sanneh Mentereng Constituency and other high level dignitaries of Sukuta.
The Deputy Governor of West Coast Region ( Musa Susso) was also instrumental and planted Avocado Tree infront of the Salagi forest station for the generations to come to benefit.
Madam NAM graced the occasion and assure the participants that the protection n conservation will be priority because the importance of the forest resources is beyond Sukuta.
Climate change effects n migration is now beyond talking n blaming but practical demonstration on the ground...best results we can register.
Omar Sidibeh thanks the participants that our demonstration into practical actions will be fir the future generations coming to find the best forest structures to benefit from as we took from others.
The Action oriented Leader( AGFP) Alhaji Saikou Njanko delivered motivation and knowledge based speech that was absorbed with thoughts of better generation positions in the restoration interventions dividends.
There were songs and dancing as planting exercises progress steadily and surely with supervision along by our able foresters especially experienced and well seasoned Female foresters ( Mai Bojang n Ndow Gassama).
These two outstanding female foresters are hard to compete with by the men because of their strength, experiences and talents.
Interestingly, the last years planting exercises are most successful growth that surprised the entire crowd both Borassus aethiopum and other species.
Bravo Bravo Bravo Bravo Bravo.....Restoration of Salagi forest.

GO AND OBSERVE THE RESTORATION EXERCISES IN SALAGI FOREST Park .
Finally, immense thanks to Sukuta Youths and VDC with support of Forestry for the excellent foresight to continue restoring the Forests for the generations n today.
Allahuu Taa Allah grant US the strength and wisdom to continue the development.

KARIBU AND SAFARI NJEMAA....

Congrats Congrats to the first Female Forester that Heads a Forest Station n President of Female forester's Association: Mrs Mai Fabu Bojang...Station Head of Furuya and Plantation Head.
Apparently , Madam Mai Bojang had vast field trainings and participated in many Forestry interventions n planning workshops.
Last National Forest Assessment (NFA 2010) she was amongst the field assessment members that crisscross the entire Country both inland and upland ( marshland ,forests, farmlands etc) .
Undoubtedly, the male colleagues fully relied on het competence , zeal , stigma and intelligence of GPS reading, recording and calculus .
Bravo bravo Master Mai Bojang for that ability and intelligence displayed and resulted to the wonderful results that was part of documentation (NFA.2010).
On the part of Technical Unit on restoration interventions and silvicultural activities her ability as excellent leader are vividly observed at her Forest Station ..Furuya and the Plantation management.
Under her administration there are well built gentlemen but are managed with equity and skills .
In any forest activities, she spearheaded and transformed herself into calories beyond the men folk.
Imagine, she supported the sowing of Borassus aethiopum over 10,000 seeds alongside Furuya forest adjacent Kembujeh.
Similarly, just recent more 2000 Seedlings of various types planted at Furuya Mandinaba Basori area alongside with Bamboo sticks planting.
Our thanks to two able female foresters Nbaringba Ndow Gassama Sanneh n Haddy Dibba Touray.
These and others are given no pace in Technical expertise to any individuals in the Forestry activities and versatile.
Thanks to Almighty Allah for the strength n ability for staff of Technical Unit of the cooperation and coping strategy to do better unexpected.
Mr Omar Sidibeh ( Head of Technical Unit) and able support staff of the excellent services you are offering and the stand for restoration of all degraded areas must be commended.
The population surely rely on the Plantations resources and must be ensured of the sustainable supply of the Gmelina wood( logs, firewood, supporters, poles, water retention, Wildlife sanctuary etc).for generation ahead.

THE POPULATION MUST HELP PREVENT WASTE DUMPING , ILLEGAL FORESTLAND ACQUISITION/SALES, FALSE OWNERSHIP CLAIMS, ILLEGAL DOCUMENTATIONS BY INSTITUTIONS, SETTLEMENTS etc. AGAINST FORESTLAND FOR OUR GENERATION TO INHERIT.

The Botanical Garden established by Department of Forestry through support of UNDP located at BAMBA/Nyambai Forest Park alongside the Farato -Brikama highway adjacent to the National Beekeepers Association campus.
Thus established in 2019 with the objectives: stocking the site with prominent indigenous trees and herbal species that gradually on extinction and as potential seeds bank in future and knowledge based research n learning on indigenous species.
Without such likelihood in future those species will be out off plant taxonomy of The country.
Interestingly, at far distance you can observed the site but try chance and venture inside then indigenous trees planted can be greeting with the branches vividly identifying themselves as Khaya senegalensis (Jalo), Ziziphus mauritania (Tonborongo), Adansonia digitata (Sito), Parkia bigolobosa (Netto), Pterocarpus erinaceous (keno), Acacia fardhabia (Baransango) n host of others.
Today, another planting exercises conducted to introduce more species to make the site to become UNIQUE in.the country.
Immense gratitude to TU Head ( Omar Sidibeh)and his Technical experts of Unit for the untiring efforts towards the management of the area.
Mr Cherno Gaye, the expert behind the idea n Citing the area for easy management and for the institutions to be able to access for knowledge based learning.
Bravo Bravo to Cherno ,UNDP and Director of Forestry for his Technical expertise for the advisory role.
The site is supported with borehole and fitted ground staff pipes inside for watering.
By extension gratitude to Mr Lang Kinteh ..SARO NURSERY for the ground preparation and initial establishment of the plants.
CREATE MORE OF SUCH IN EACH REGION TO NURTURE AND CONSERVE LIKELY EXTENT PLANT SPECIES INDIGENOUS OF ZONES.

START NOW AND MAKE PROGRESS.

Now the situation of rainfall across the country has created conducive opportunities for the awaited massive Restoration interventions in any form of tree growing.
The entire local based organisations , projects , renowned environmentalists , climate groups/ advocates, institutions, individuals ,Security Sectors etc..should endeavour to commence or intensify the crusade of restoration activities.
This is a National Calls and interestingly our Law makers are in session.
They must table up the Restoration importance for each to.go back to his constituency to supervise vigorous planting exercises in collaboration with Technical experts of Forestry n communities.
Unless the Law makers take ownership and spearhead the crusade, the activities are regarded as Forestry RESPONSIBILITIES.
But the wood energy sources derived from forests n indirect benefits are enjoyed by all the population.
Our dwelling on Climate change effects and not participating in addressing direct issues such Tree planting n control forest fires are just increasing much saliva to the environment.
The Urban Forestry is ideal in the Urban settlements through planting light tree species and low crown flamboyant types along suitable sites n roads as well p***c places.
The Brikama-Banjul highway so open and unattractive as well as TransGambia highway and North Bank Region..
Finally, we must thank the veterans , President of Female forester's Association (Mai Bojang)with her colleague , TU Head (Omar Sidibeh)and staff for the untiring efforts shown in the massive restoration exercises in the Salagi forest Park.
In same vein Director of information..TU ( Kemo kinteh), Director of Logistics ( Modou Jallow) , TU -Drivers and Nursery attendants for the excellent services done producing first class seedlings of various indigenous types; Ziziphus mauritania( Tomborongo), Adansonia digitata (Sito) , Acacia fardhabia (Baransango), Detaruim senegalensis(Tallo) Khaya senegalensis(Jalo) Gmelia arborea, etc...
It was laudable intervention , planting six months old Ziziphus mauritania looking like one year old and the difficulties encountered to uproot them with tongs .
In future Salagi forest Park will be come very potential area for ecotourism opportunities because of readily available food for the Wildlife n reptiles as well for relaxation site adventures.
Bravo Bravo ..Technical Unit for your excellent expertise to strive ahead from restoration of Borassus aethiopum seeds and indigenous nutritious/herbal species fir the future generation.
COME OUT NOW AND RESTORE THE DEGRADED AREAS, FARMLANDS N FORESTS AND WORKSHOPS/SENSITISATIONS THE RAINS IS WAITING.

As we are in the peak period for Forestry Department in restoring our forest cover, I call on all Gambians to join with the Department of Forestry to plant more trees both rural areas and the urban settlement to mitigate deforestation and Climate change. Calls from Forestry Department Communication office.

The Fintong Mareneg forest station (SOTOKOI) Forestry Manager Lamin Camara n Staff must be commended for the good work carried out in the Campus vicinity.
It is the most Agroforestry practices outlook carried out with Alley of Paw Paw n Gmelina and Vegetable production alongside Tree seedlings production.
Inside the office complex ,the displayed of Forest Park map , Planned activities 2022 n Detailed list Staff status thus given glance information about the Forest Parks n management model.
Apparently , the intensive n vigorous restoration exercises of Borassus aethiopum extended to Fintong Mareneg forest Park.
The seeds collection was carried out at Tumani Tenda outstanding community in the area of Community Forestry management. As narrated by eldest that these Borassus aethiopum stands were products of the people concerted efforts to sow n broadcasted the seeds in that sites years back after collecting them from Cassamance Region.
We must thanked the entire TU Staff especially Principal Head (Omar Sidibeh ) , Lamin Camara Manager of Fintong Manereg forest Park n staff as well as the other able Plantation officers ..Salagi, Furuya n Kabafita forest station.
In the same vein , special thanks to the Drivers and the Women that provided most delicious meals for the activities.
The Restoration exercises must be promoted on Borassus aethiopum n also Adansonia digitata are potential food store in the forest for the population.
Excitingly, over 10,000 seeds of Borassus aethiopum broadcasted n sown as well as 5000 seeds of Adansonia digitata broa8in the forest.

WE MUST ACT NOW TO RESTORE OUR HISTORICAL TREES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME BECAUSE WE DESTROYED...

JARAMA JARAMA...ALLAH WILL REWARD.