The department has had a number of development projects funded
by either Gambia government or external donors for the establishment, protection
and management of forest resources. In the past 15 - 20 years now, a number of
bilateral and multilateral donors such as USAID, FAO/DADEA, EEC and the Federal
Republic of Germany, and NGOs such as Action Aid The Gambia (AATG) and Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) have significantly contributed in government’s
efforts for the protection and sustainable management of natural forest
resources (plant genetic material).
Proposals for international, regional and sub-regional
collaboration is presented as follows:
International collaboration
The following are proposed:
- A global financing mechanism should be set up for funding plant genetic
material conservation especially in the tropics,
- A world centre to facilitate the coordination and preservation of genetic
material of all known and existing plants for future reproduction if need
be, must be established,
- The establishment of seed banks in tropical developing countries,
- Various institutions to collaborate and assist each other in designing
and implementing natural forest resource management programs that are consistent
with social and cultural and economic developments.
Regional collaboration
The following are proposed:
- Regional institutions must assist in the elaboration of the principles
established in the conventions on Biodiversity and desertification to the
expectations of the rural community and other plant genetic users,
- Need for an International Convention on Plant Genetic Resource preservation
and development,
- Exchange of experiences in the field of conservation and plant genetic
conservation,
- Aim at achieving regional integration in natural forest management.
Sub-regional collaboration
The following are proposed:
- Creation of awareness among all stakeholders through decentralization,
- Support private investment in forest plant genetic resource management
and utilization through commercialisation,
- Prevention of national and trans-boundary social and land tenure conflicts,
- Integration of successful natural resources management strategies into
economic development plans and
- Guaranteed food security and sustainable rural development.
