By Isatou Jawara
Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) in partnership with Shaping a Sustainable Future through joint action doubles as Green Economy Project has embarked on a 12-day tree planting exercise within the project intervention communities in Lower, Central, and Upper Badibou, Jokadou and Lower Nuimi in the North Bank Region.
The purpose of the tree planting exercise is to contribute to enhancing the regeneration and restoration of the degraded forest cover. The project implemented in 10 schools provided 38,000 poly pots, fencing materials and tree nurseries as a strategy to raise students appreciation to environmental education as a means to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
Mr. Alpha Sey, Project Manager who is also the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at NATC said the planting exercises form part of the project initiative of empowering communities to establish their tree nurseries and with greater emphasis on the propagation of indigenous trees that are extinct.
He noted that the partnership with the Regional Forestry Office in Kerewan and Mama Tamba Youths Empowerment Association of Illiasa aimed to complement efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change and food production.
Mr.Sey further disclosed that the project distributed 1100 improved cooking stoves to help reduce pressure on the forest on the collection of fuel wood and enhance the health of women and children.
He added that Njawara Agricultural Training Centre partners with Toroba Baobab Youths Association on enhancing resilience building on climate change, citing the production of compressed earth block. The project provided concrete mixer and capacity enhancement to youths and by extension, create employment opportunities and income.
Mr. Pierre R. Colley, Administrative Circle Head at Forestry Office described the partnership with Njawara Agricultural Training Centre as cordial and said trees planted should be protected from animals and bushfires. He thanked partners for complementing the government’s efforts in the restoration and preservation of forest cover.
Mr. Momodou Bah, Public Relations Officer said the support to youths has contributed immensely to skill development in compressed brick making and group management, adding that the intervention by NATC helped create employment opportunities.
Ms. Matel Bah, the women’s representative thanked NATC and donor partners for their support in providing improved cooking stoves. She noted that access to fuel wood posed greater challenges for women and girls.
