By Nelson Manneh
As part of the International Day of Forests 2025 commemoration, the Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) has called on the government to take decisive action to protect the country’s reserved forest parks, threatened by deforestation, encroachment, and unsustainable development.
In a statement issued Friday, GEA highlighted the Abuko Nature Reserve, Sukuta Salagi Forest, Manduar Community Forest, and Nyanibereh Forest in the Lower River Region as being particularly vulnerable to destruction.
“These forests are facing unprecedented challenges that jeopardize their ecological integrity and the livelihoods they support,” GEA said in its release.
The organisation expressed concern over proposals to de-reserve portions of Abuko Nature Reserve, a site that has served as a biodiversity conservation hub for over 50 years. If implemented, GEA warned, such projects could cause irreparable harm to the ecosystem, which serves as a sanctuary for countless species and a natural barrier against climate change.
Similarly, Sukuta Salagi Forest and Nyanibereh Forest are being lost to rapid urbanization and illegal activities, undermining their role in climate resilience and community livelihoods, the alliance noted.
GEA condemned these developments as violations of The Gambia’s international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The organisation stressed that these forests are not just resources, but lifelines for present and future generations.
“Their destruction would exacerbate flooding, disrupt ecosystems, and deprive local communities of essential benefits such as non-timber forest products,” GEA stated.
As the umbrella body for environmental organizations in the country, GEA reaffirmed its commitment to defending the country’s critical ecosystem. Since its establishment in 2021, the group has worked with communities, government agencies, and international partners to promote sustainable forest management.
Through advocacy, tree-planting initiatives, and educational campaigns, GEA said it has supported efforts to restore degraded lands and empower communities to safeguard their natural heritage.
“We will not relent,” said Mustapha Jarju, a GEA spokesperson. “Our forests are not commodities for short-term gains; they are legacies that define us as a nation. We urge the government to halt all plans that threaten our protected areas and instead invest in their restoration and sustainable management.”
GEA also called on the Gambian public to support the cause.
“Together, we can ensure that our forests—including Abuko, Sukuta Salagi, and Nyanibereh—remain vibrant ecosystems that support biodiversity, combat climate change, and sustain livelihoods for generations to come,” the statement concluded.
