The new director of the Forestry Department, Abdoulie Sanneh, has called on all Gambians to work hard and protect the country’s forest cover, saying the importance of the forest cannot be over-emphasised.

Sanneh, who was appointed to his new position last week, made these remarks recently during an interview with the Daily Observer at his office in Banjul. “I would like to get the support of all and sundry for the better protection of our forests,” he said. He decried the unpatriotic actions of certain people, who he said, engage in illegal forestry activities. Such people, according to him, should be exposed, and vowed that he will never compromise with anything that would destroy Gambia’s forests.

Sanneh also called on the general public to be vigilant in protecting the forest, saying: “if any body has a tip of information about illegal activities taking place in any of our forests, such as bush fires, burning, rhun palms and charcoal production, illegal felling of forest trees, among others, he or she should draw the attention of the forestry personnel or the security agencies.” He then urged people to change their behaviour towards the country’s forest cover for a better and sustainable forest.

He also urged the Alkalolu, the chiefs and other local authorities to sensitise their communities on bush fire issues and protection of the forest cover. When asked about his new appointment as the director of Forestry, Sanneh first thanked the Gambian government for appointing him as the director of Forestry, adding that it was due to the trust bestowed on him.

He described his appointment as a big challenge and added that the forestry staff alone cannot protect the forest but instead, there should be a collective responsibility to ensure that the forests are fully protected. The new Forestry director finally expressed optimism that he will live up to expectation. It could be recalled that Abdoulie Sanneh was appointed as the new director of the Forestry department on 1st November, 2009.