Stakeholders step up measures againstbushfire
Monday, June 17, 2013
The Agency for the Development of
Women and Children (ADWAC) and the Department of Forestry have stepped up
measures to curb the menace of bushfires in the Central River Region, with a
donation of a consignment of fire fighter equipment to communities in the
region.
The consignment includes rakes,
cutlasses, and bicycles, amongst others. The items will be used to contain
unexpected fire outbreak, as well as enable the rural dwellers put fire belts
around the villages, compounds and other protected areas.
Speaking at a ceremony held at
Brikamaba, the energy and environment project officer at ADWAC, Lamin Jarjue,
described the donation as important, especially at this time when farmers are
clearing farm lands in preparation for the farming season.
Jarjue said the fire fighter
equipment will help farmers contain any eventual fire outbreak. He called on
the beneficiary communities to tighten their belts in the fight against bush fires
and even domestic fires, as well as other illegal activities in the forest.
The regional forestry officer for
CRR south, Alhagie Sanyang, spoke extensively on the importance of protecting
the forest and its resources against wild fires; a responsibility he stressed
must not only be shouldered by foresters, but all. “To sustain the forest, we
have to strengthen our efforts in the prevention and control of the forests
against wild fires,” he stressed, while calling on the youths to participate in
this crusade.
Sanyang recalled that some years ago
his department distributed fire fighter equipment including bicycles to all the
communities in the region to ensure that the rate of bush fires is minimised.
He informed of the Department’s new
measure of shifting the management of the forests from state owned to
individual and co-management system to encourage private involvement.
The forester hailed the
complementary efforts of ADWAC in promoting environmental protection to enhance
sustainable livelihood, and assured them of their fullest support in the fight
against bush fires.
The lady councilor of Lower Fulladu
West, Aja Fatou Trawalleh, opined that the attainment of food security can only
be realised if the environment is protected from bush fire and illegal
logging. She noted that ADWAC is committed to promoting food security and
sustainable development, saying this campaign would bring about positive
behavioral change towards the management of forest.
ADWAC field worker, Lamin Jabbie
stressed that participatory forest management calls for concerted efforts among
stakeholders as well as the need to adhere to forest policy and regulations on
bushfire.
“The partnership with ADWAC would
contribute towards strengthening community response in the management of
forest,” he stated.