By Madiba Singhateh
The Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources has said the government of The Gambia has committed USD 7,850,000.00 from its GEF STAR allocation for the development of the child project titled: Restoration of an Ecological Corridor for Forest Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services to Support Implementation of the Great Green Wall in The Gambia.
This project aims to improve 38,000 hectares of terrestrial protected areas, restore 43,000 hectares of land and ecosystems, and implement sustainable land management practices across 36,000 hectares of rural farming landscapes. It is expected to benefit 795,000 people, with a higher proportion of females (460,000) than males (335,000), reflecting a commitment to social inclusion and gender equity.
Rohey John Manjang on Wednesday, June 10 made this disclosure at the Second Steering Committee meeting of the UNEP/GEF Medium Size Project (MSP) held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Centre.
The primary objectives of the meeting were to provide an overview of the project’s evolution, development, and vision. The discussions focused on presenting the project components, outcomes, outputs, and logical framework. The GGW aims to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded landscapes across the Sahel, stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east by 2030.
The event, organized jointly by the government of The Gambia through the National Environment Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Pan African Agency of the GGW, and the African Union GGW coordination, brought together stakeholders and partners from the sub-region to further the Great Green Wall Initiatives (GGWI) for a sustainable and resilient Sahel.
In her welcoming remarks, Rohey John Manjang emphasized the importance of a healthy ecosystem for The Gambia’s sustainable development. She highlighted that critical sectors of the country’s economy, including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and forestry, depend on the environment.
“Our participation in the UNEP/GEF regional project will contribute to achieving global environmental goals by combating desertification and promoting sustainable land management. It will also foster cross-border cooperation, allowing The Gambia to share and gain knowledge and resources with neighboring countries to tackle shared environmental challenges,” she said.
Minister John Manjang also addressed the impacts of global warming and climate change, noting that erratic weather patterns, rising sea levels, and severe weather events could profoundly affect agriculture, water resources, and coastal zones. “Increased deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and urbanization continue to accelerate land degradation, reducing productivity and compromising food security,” she added.
Other notable speakers included the director of NEA, Dawda Badjie, Pr. Daouda Ngom, Minister for the Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal, Mr. Adamou Bouhari, Regional Coordinator for the UNEP/GEF Great Green Wall, and Mr. Ibrahima Sow, Regional Coordinator for Africa, Global Environment Facility.
The meeting underscored the critical importance of regional cooperation and shared commitment to addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development across the Sahel.
