Salaji Forest in danger as govt greenlights controversial land deal
Salaji Forest, an important 3,000-hectare expanse in The Gambia, recognized for its wealthy biodiversity and environmental significance, is beneath growing menace of destruction attributable to a controversial authorities determination.
Once a protected State Forest Park, the federal government has allotted a 2.5-hectare part of the forest for basalt storage, a transfer that sparks protests from environmental teams and native communities. The controversy begins when the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources (MECCNAR) approves a brief allocation of land inside Salaji Forest for the storage of basalt, a cloth to assist the nation’s infrastructure tasks.
The determination is made in partnership with GACH Global, a non-public firm tasked with facilitating the import of basalt to be used in numerous development works. The authorities contends that this undertaking complies with all authorized and environmental pointers, assuring that the land use can be momentary.
However, the choice to faucet into Salaji Forest, a protected space gazetted in 1952 and managed by the Department of Forestry, triggers outrage.
Critics argue that the choice is made with out enough session with native communities, violating each nationwide legal guidelines and the general public’s belief.
Pa Matarr Cham, focal particular person for Sukuta Village Development, voices his group’s frustration, emphasising that they had been by no means consulted in regards to the allocation.
“As a community, we aren’t consulted. They admit this is a mistake and promise to follow the right procedures,” Cham explains.
He provides that the folks of Sukuta are so indignant in regards to the determination that they really feel their voices have been ignored in a matter that straight impacts them.
His group stays open to dialogue however insists that any decision should shield each the forest and the native inhabitants.
Environmental advocates additionally increase considerations in regards to the dangers of storing basalt in shut proximity to a pure reserve.
Muhammed Hydara, Secretary General of the Gambia Environmental Alliance, factors out the dearth of transparency within the course of.
“The laws are clear, before degazetting any protected area, due process must be followed,” Hydara argues.
He warns that the buildup of basalt within the forest might considerably hurt each the native surroundings and public well being. With fears of air air pollution and potential contamination of water sources, native residents are alarmed by the choice.
Hydara provides: “right now, all we want is for all activities to be stopped and consult the community.”
“We will definitely challenge this issue in the courts if the minister doesn’t accept.”
The ecological affect is already evident in different areas. Cham attracts comparisons to Kerr Serign, the place the destruction of pure habitats displaces wildlife, together with monkeys now seen wandering city areas.
He fears the identical destiny awaits Salaji Forest if the federal government’s plan proceeds unchecked. “The forest hosts diverse species. If the trend continues, this forest will soon be extinct,” Cham warns.
The looming menace to Salaji’s biodiversity and its potential affect on water sources intensifies the stakes. Local communities, already weak to environmental modifications, are deeply involved about their future.
“Basalt storage shouldn’t be within the vicinity of the community,” Hydara emphasises. The environmental dangers posed by the storage website prolong far past the forest itself.
Environmental harm in The Gambia
The Gambia has witnessed important environmental degradation over time, with deforestation, land degradation, and coastal erosion being main considerations.
Deforestation stays one of the urgent points, with massive areas of the nation’s forests cleared for agriculture, infrastructure, and firewood assortment.
The Gambia’s forest cowl has dwindled from 75% within the Nineteen Sixties to round 40% at this time, a loss that has led to a lower in biodiversity and a heightened vulnerability to local weather change.
Coastal erosion can also be a serious menace, particularly within the capital metropolis of Banjul and surrounding areas. Rising sea ranges, coupled with unsustainable improvement alongside the shoreline, have brought on the lack of wetlands and important habitats for marine life. The tourism and fishing industries, key to the nation’s financial system, are additionally affected by these environmental modifications.
Land degradation attributable to deforestation is more and more affecting agricultural productiveness. The nation faces lowered soil fertility and water shortages, placing native communities vulnerable to meals insecurity.
The authorities’s determination to allocate land inside Salaji Forest for basalt storage provides to the mounting environmental considerations, elevating questions in regards to the nation’s long-term dedication to sustainable improvement.
By Adama Makasuba
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