4. Improvements of National Forestry Statistic Process

Capacity building at the national level is crucial for the improvement of statistics related to wood-products. There is a serious man power shortage both in quantity and quality in almost all the institutions involved in data collection, processing and dissemination of statistics related to wood-products. It is therefore imperative to tackle this important area. Since our national budget is not sufficient to solve this important impeding factor, development partners and donor institutions should step in to complement the efforts of the government. Highly skilled and trained staff is required for improvement.

At the national level resources are scares. The allocation of the limited resources poses constraints on the government in almost all the sectors. The financial resource requirements cannot be met through the national efforts therefore support for adequate resource mobilisation by the international community is important and urgent. Lack of financial resources delays important activities such as inventory, field sampling, land trotting for verifications, validation workshops, mobilisation of personnel, recruitment of staff and training. It should be seen that national capacities are build through on job training. In addition to capacity building, adequate funding for the improvement of statistics related to wood-products is of utmost importance.

To improve the institutional capacity for more efficient and effective data management and proper dissemination of information, the government efforts must be supported. Transformation and up-dating the infrastructures and equipment that allows the enabling environment is important. A degree of modernisation is required to catch up with the pace of development, technology and society. Therefore, it is very necessary to be equipped with computers and computer programmes, GPS systems, mobility, communication system etc to achieve the desired improvement.

At present, there is an urgent need to improve the network both within and between institutions. The institutional collaboration discussed above must be put in action for it to be efficient and effective. This is not totally lacking but a better co-ordinating effort must be put in place to achieve improvement. Due to gaps in effective co-ordination, reliable data and time are lost. While recognising the importance of producing complete and accurate data in a timely manner, no improvements on statistics on wood-products could be realised unless the issue is addressed.

Standardising the methodology for data collection and analysis at the national level is imperative for any meaningful improvement. It is important to identity a focal point for this co-ordination. The forestry department should take a lead in this and should therefore be identified as the focal institution. The office of the focal points should be supported by the FAO to improve its capacity and resources for effective co-ordination.

Since the Agriculture and Natural Resources working group is mandated as the clearinghouse, the group should liaise closely with the focal points to set national standards and ensure compliance.

For successful integration, one has to consult the key institutions named in page six and together plan for a sustainable approach. Already the major gaps have been identified. This is a very important base line to start with.

The usual practice in the Gambia is to identify the focal point. Through him, a memorandum of understanding based on very clear principles is signed with key collaborators. This will be helpful for full integration of the proposal and will be fitted into the existing organisational structures both vertically and horizontally.

NB 6. FAO’s yearbook on Forest Products for the Gambia is not available on the Internet as indicated in the TOR. If you have any at your end I shall be most grateful if it be send so that I can provide comments