The West Coast Region (WCR) Wednesday established the 'All Gambia Forestry Platform' (GFP) with the election of a nine-member committee, at the National Coordinating Organisation of Farmers Association in The Gambia (NACOFAG) office in Brikama.

The ‘All Gambia Forestry Platform' is a national programme designed to support the implementation of The Gambia's National Forestry Policy and Act of 1998. The platform helps to strengthen participatory community forestry management throughout the country, with a set target to register robust sustainable forestry management in all regions by the year 2020.

The establishment of the committee in WCR follows the inauguration of similar platforms in the provincial regions. The establishment of the platform in all regions and municipalities is contracted to the Kombo Foni Forestry Association (KOMFFORA), a community forest association based in Kafuta, Kombo East, by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Speaking shortly before the election of the platform members, the president of KOMFFORA, Seeku Janko said his association was established in 1998 as the first community forest association in The Gambia. He explained that the establishment of the association was prompted by an expressed concern of its members that The Gambia has been experiencing rapid deforestation, which has resulted to higher temperatures, low rainfalls as well as increased prevalence of bushfires and accelerated soil depletion.

Janko told the gathering that the association plants 30,000 trees annually in both Kombo and in the Fonis and has also conducted the planting of mangroves at Burumang Bridge in Kalagi, in the Foni Jarrol District. He told the platform committee members that they are mandated to work towards the sustainable management of the environment, adding that they should endeavour to carry out that mandate with commitment and dedication. “In order to sustainably manage our forests, people must demonstrate high sense of ownership,” he said.

Momodou Sabally from the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment told the gathering that some 60 years ago, The Gambia was only having forest scouts when people were showing little or even no interest in sustaining the forest. He said much responsibility and ownership was given to the forest when community forestry was introduced in 1995, which led to the establishment of community-controlled state forests and joint forest parks.

He then used the occasion to call on the committee members to always endeavour to operate according to the National Forestry Act and Policy for the sustainability of Gambia's forests, saying where there is no sustainable environment, development will always retard. Alene Hassane, a forestry specialist from the United States of America told the gathering that any beneficial thing done for the forest by an individual will go a long way in supporting the whole world one day. She then urged the committee members to endeavour be responsible and always do the right thing.

Dodou Darboe from the Association of Farmers, Educators and Traders (AFET) said sustainability and management of the forestry has enormous benefits, ranging from employment, to wood, shelter and the provision of food. He reminded the committee members of their responsibilities, stressing that they should not be there for the sake of positions but rather to contribute to national development.