Africa-Press – Gambia. The Director of the Department of Forestry, Lt. Colonel Salifu Corr, on Thursday launched a nationwide campaign to raise 30 million Gmelina seedlings.
The launch coincided with the start of a ten-day tour to all regional forestry offices.
The campaign aims to cultivate the seedlings across nursery beds in all six regions of the country. Each region is expected to raise 5,000 seedlings at its forestry nurseries, contributing to the national target.
Lt. Colonel Corr, accompanied by senior staff, says the tour is part of ongoing initiatives to engage directly at the regional level and participate in the sowing of seedlings. The programme will focus on raising Gmelina seedlings, protecting them until maturity, and transferring them to community sites in consultation with local beneficiaries.
The tour began at Kafuta Forest Station, where the delegation conducted direct sowing of Gmelina seeds in two nursery sites. Officials said this is the first campaign of this scale in the department’s history.
Mr. Sisawo Sabally, Regional Forestry Officer for the West Coast Region, praised the director’s leadership. “The director deserves commendation for launching this initiative aimed at restoring our lost forest cover,” he said. “As custodians of the country’s forest resources, we must prioritise restoration for future generations.”
Lt. Colonel Corr emphasized that the exercise at Kafuta Forest Nursery was part of a broader plan to increase seedling sowing nationwide. He urged forestry staff and the public to take ownership of the initiative, highlighting its potential economic benefits.
“Raising Gmelina seedlings, the fastest-growing timber tree, will reduce the need for Gambians to source timber from neighbouring countries,” he said, warning against bushfires and other acts that degrade forest resources. Violators will face prosecution under the Forestry Act, he added.
The director also commended the continued support of the UNDP, which has provided materials to assist in forest protection efforts.
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