The Director of Inter-Sectoral Network at the National Environment Agency has said that the objectives of the Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) project is to demonstrate best practices and strategies to reduce the degradation of marine and coastal environments of trans-boundary significance, and to enhance sustainable tourism practices.
The project also aims to demonstrate best practices and strategies to reduce the degradation of marine and coastal environments of trans-boundary significance, and to enhance sustainable tourism practices.
Mrs. Ndey S. Bakurin made these remarks at the opening of a one day workshop on ‘Awareness raising to encourage enforcement of natural resources sustainable use within Tourism Development Areas (TDA’s) and in protected areas in Gunjur West Coast region.
The National Environment Agency in collaboration with Gambia Tourism Authority is currently implementing a project on Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) Project.
Pa Fansu Bojang, representative of the village head (alkalo) of Gunjur welcomed the participants and thanked the NEA and relevant stakeholders for such an opportunity to conduct an awareness workshop which is availed to the community of Gunjur.
Mr. Momodou Suwareh Senior Programme Officer Coastal and Marine Environment NEA dilated on the importance of fisheries resources management, whereas, Mr. Ousainou Touray of Department of Parks & Wildlife Management (DPWM) expatiated on the significance of biodiversity management.
Mr. Lamin Njie of Department of Forestry (D.O.F) buttressed on the treasures of coastal natural resources: the mangroves ecosystem, biodiversity and marine resources.
He also highlighted the negative effects of illegal logging, deforestation, pollution, over fishing, harmful agricultural practices, sand mining, threats posed to mangroves ecosystem and highlighted the species and habitats in the country that are in danger.
Mrs. Fatou Janha, president TRY Oysters highlighted the importance of oyster farming and the innovative application of new techniques. She said, her organization have intervention sites at Wenchu, Kamalang, Jeshwang, Fajikunda, Ebo Town and Kartong.
Mr. Dawda Badjie Senior Programme Officer Environmental Impact Assessment at the NEA expounded on the threats caused by coastal sand mining, which he said results to negative consequences such as coastal ecosystem loss, destruction of the near shore marine ecosystem, threats to potential tourism sites, aesthetics and lunar landscape end result, the lack of sand reserve for natural beach storm response, increased shoreline erosion rates and destruction of archaeological sites.
Meanwhile, the Development Officer of GTA Mr. Sang Sylva elaborated on Tourism’s contribution and benefits in natural resource management, the impacts of the benefits, the impacts of human activity on the unsustainable use of natural resources, and adaptation of mitigation and enforcement measures to name a few.
The Programme Officer for Coastal and Marine Environment at the NEA Mr Famara Drammeh underscored the significance of proper coordination of natural resources, coastal and marine resources, protection and networking.
According to the project coordinator Abubacarr Kujabi, who is also the Assistant Program Officer for Coastal and Marine Environment Unit of the NEA, the long term goal of the project is to support and enhance the conservation of globally significant coastal and marine ecosystems, and associated biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, through the reduction of negative environmental impacts which they receive as a result of coastal tourism.
The countries involved in the implementation of this regional coastal protection project include Cameroon, Ghana, Seychelles, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Gambia.
According to the project coordinator in The Gambia, the project has three intervention Demo sites, namely Denton bridge area, Kartong and Toumani Tenda.