As the world rapidly drifts toward climate disaster related challenges so are climate change conscious communities, individuals, companies and governments are diversifying mitigation and restoration solutions in the fight against the global phenomenon in The Gambia.
Due to this, the Bulock Kapongha Youth Development Association (BKYDA) on Saturday, August 26, 2023 embarked on a massive tree planting exercise in the village’s forest park. The exercise saw the planting of 2,000 different varieties of trees in the community’s forest park.
According to climate experts and activists, trees play pivotal roles as they trap heat, turn that heat into energy, absorb carbon dioxide as well as serve as wind shields in the fight against climate change and its related effects on the environment, biodiversity, lives and livelihoods, hence the need for such apt interventions.
The Secretary General of the Association, Alieu Jammeh revealed that, the tree planting is an annual event and it started six years ago, whilst the ultimate objectives are to fight against the effects of climate change in The Gambia but especially around Bulock village, West Coast Region. “Since inception, we have planted over 17,000 trees. And we have varieties of trees planted in this community’s forest park” Jammeh added.
Meanwhile for the Managing Director of CMA CGM, a shipping company that operates in The Gambia, Gorel Patrick Samatey, his shipping company fulfills its yearly corporate social responsibility and since last year, the company had been sponsoring the tree planting exercises in Bulock village in fulfillment of that social corporate responsibility.
Samatey believes that Africans should embrace the fight against climate change and that his company will keep on the crusade every year, saying “last year we planted 400 trees in this community’s forest park whilst this year we have increased the number to 550 trees”.
Representing the Office of the President of the republic of the Gambia, the Deputy Youth Adviser Lamin K. Saidy said that planting trees is a form of mitigation strategies against climate change and it will enhance the country’s resilience efforts in this front.
He added that this should have been a government led imitative but believes that individual communities across the country as well have shared responsibilities toward the protection of their environment, saying such community led initiatives are commendable.
“The planting of trees might not benefit planters immediately or directly but it is for posterity and for the generations to come”. Saidy said.
According to the February 2023 report by Climate Action Tracker, the Gambia’s domestic efforts to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement are in line with its fair share due to its small historical responsibilities and strong development needs.
However, the report noted that the country needs international support to significantly improve the extent of its climate action adding that the Government of The Gambia warns that if the current rate of deforestation continues, there will be no forest by the year 2050.
