By: Haddy Touray
Gambia is playing host to two key wildlife and forestry events, with the government reaffirming its commitment to forest and wildlife protection.
The 25th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC-25) and the 9th African Forestry and Wildlife Week opened on Monday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre.
The Gambia is hosting the continental gathering in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Presiding over the official opening, Gambia’s Vice President Muhammad S. Jallow welcomed delegates, describing the country as “a nation with a big heart” and one committed to safeguarding Africa’s environment and shared natural heritage.
VP Jallow said The Gambia’s decision to host the forum “sends a clear message” that the country stands firmly with African nations choosing “to protect, not exploit; to restore, not destroy; and to act, not merely talk” in matters of environmental sustainability.
He said the week-long gathering places Africa at the Centre of global dialogues on forest and wildlife conservation, climate action, biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Our collective work here will shape policies and practices beyond the continent,” he noted.
According to the Vice President, AFWC-25 provides a platform for African countries to exchange knowledge, coordinate policies and promote inclusive governance, youth engagement, community participation and emerging technologies in the forestry and wildlife sectors.
VP Jallow said the government entered office at a time when the country’s forests were shrinking and wildlife was under severe threat. In response, he said, the administration made environmental protection “a matter of national survival and political sovereignty.”
Under the National Development Plan – Green Recovery Focused (2023–2027), forestry, parks, and wildlife have been placed at the Centre of national development priorities. The government has reformed the Forest Act, launched the National Forest Policy (2023–2032) and strengthened the Departments of Forestry and Parks and Wildlife Management to improve law enforcement and ecosystem protection.
Jallow said the government also imposed a total ban on timber exports, revoked illegal felling permits and disrupted cross-border trafficking of rosewood. “Leadership is tested when political convenience must give way to moral duty, and on our part, we chose duty,” he declared.
He praised FAO as a “trusted ally” in conservation efforts, acknowledging its support in community forestry, mangrove restoration, biodiversity protection, forest management and capacity development. He also expressed appreciation to FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu and Member States for their sustained collaboration.
On wildlife management, the Vice President said the sector has become a central pillar of The Gambia’s environmental strategy. He cited efforts to expand protected areas, enforce regulations to safeguard endangered species and combat illegal hunting, poaching and wildlife trafficking.
FAO’s technical support during the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak, he added, was crucial in protecting migratory birds and national wildlife populations.
For her part, FAO’s Country Representative, speaking on behalf of Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu, thanked The Gambia for hosting a gathering that brings together experts from across Africa and beyond to discuss the future of forests, wildlife and climate resilience. She said The Gambia’s decision to host the session reflects strong leadership in conservation, sustainable land use and environmental governance.
She reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Member States in advancing national priorities, mobilizing resources and ensuring that forestry, wildlife protection and climate action remain central to sustainable development. She noted that FAO has over the years supported The Gambia’s National Forest Programme, including a National Forest Inventory and community-based biodiversity conservation initiatives.
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By: Haddy Touray Gambia is playing host to two key wildlife and forestry events, with the government reaffirming its commitment…
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