The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Modou Kanteh
19 November 2009
Foni — Forestry officials from the Senegalese region of Casamance have commended The Gambia for being one of the countries in the sub-region to be admired for its successes and giant strides in community forest management.
Speaking at a dayÂ's sensitisation forum in Bwiam, Foni Kansala in the Western Region, foresters from Casamance said they have a lot to learn from The Gambia in terms of forest management while recognising their failure in the management of their own forest as expected. Paul Habibu Sanyang from Casamance said: Â"We know The Gambia is leading many countries in community forest management and that is why we are here to learn from you.Â" He said looking at their region, one will know that the forest is indeed being exploited.Momodou N Bah, a forestry officer in Foni Kansala, said, The Gambia government had made several researches with the help of experts before implementing the community forest management policy in the country.
Bah said before one can succeed in community forest, ownership must be given to the people, saying Â"that is why in The Gambia the whole process started from the grassroot level.Â"Participants from both The Gambia and Casamance called on authorities both ends to come together to help stop the exploitation of the forest in their border villages.The forum was funded by ENDA dialogue politics, an organisation in Dakar, Senegal and implemented by the Saint JosephÂ's Family Farms in Bwiam, Foni.
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