Basse — The Gambia's North Bank Region is the most affected by desertification, and it is against this backdrop that the youth of that region committed themselves to plant 10, 000 trees.

This was a resolution passed by the NBR conference delegates, led by Lamin Sonko, in the 2012 NaYCONF.

As part of their resolution, Sonko revealed they would plant more tress within the region, but that they have not identified any place area yet to plant the trees.

He assured that the youth of NBR will work together in order to reduce desertification in their region.

In their resolution, he added, they also recommended that the government and private sector create tertiary institutions in their region to help reduce rate of rural-urban migration. The region's youths further called on the government to provide them with skill training centres for building the capacity of youth in NBR.

He added that they also need support and funding for operation 'No back Way to Europe' for youths in the region to participate in making hand-made products and entrepreneurial skill training, provision of farming tools and implements for youth farmers, and restructuring of youth organisations in the region.

He said they need to have information and communication materials on drug uses and trafficking and HIV/AIDS. "We also need funds to organise regional sensitisation on drug abuse and trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases, and teenage pregnancy," he stated.