A landmark initiative aimed at protecting biodiversity and boosting rural livelihoods was officially launched at the Head Office of Kiang West National Park (KWNP) in Dumbutu Village. The inception workshop brought together 30 participants, including government officials, conservationists, and community representatives.
The project, titled “Strengthening Integrated Field and Forest Fire Management and Assisted Natural Regeneration in Kiang West National Park (KWNP), and Promote Green Enterprise Development in Peripheral Villages”, is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme through the West Africa Biodiversity Conservation Network (WABIONET), The Gambia Chapter. With a budget of USD 87,500 and additional in‑kind contributions worth USD 37,500, the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM), the Department of Forestry (DoF), and KWNP Site Management Committees.
Speaking at the launch, KWNP Manager Mr. Lamin Manneh chaired the ceremony, while Senior Wildlife Officer Mr. Noah Jammeh welcomed participants. Mr. Almami Dampha, Executive Secretary of WABIONET, presented the project background, emphasizing its role in tackling forest degradation caused by unsustainable resource use and recurrent fires.
The initiative seeks to: Restore ecosystems to enhance biodiversity conservation.Establish protection zones through participatory land‑use planning. Promote green enterprises such as beekeeping to support rural livelihoods. Strengthen policy implementation and build institutional capacity for sustainable resource governance.
Participants reached consensus on priority activities, identified intervention sites, and agreed on a detailed work plan with timelines. The workshop also reinforced the leadership role of Site Management Committees in driving implementation.
From July 9–13, 2026, the project team and partners conducted field visits to identify intervention sites within KWNP, laying the groundwork for activities that will combine fire management, assisted natural regeneration, and enterprise development.
