Project Detail

Rehabilitation, enrichment and conservation of Rhun-palm forests in three community forests areas in Nianija.

The aim of the project was to conserve the natural habitats of Rhun-palms in 3 community villages (Sinchu Dabba, Kayaye and Wellingara Alpha) in the Nianija district of The Central River Region, The Gambia. The Rhun-palm forests have been degraded due to agricultural encroachment and indiscriminate tree felling leading to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity in this unique ecosystem.The project would fulfill the long term needs of the population by meeting the timber and other needs of the local population including the provision of fodder for their livestock. This project was implemented in support of a GEF regional project covering 4 West African countries (Senegal, Mali, Republic of Guinea and The Gambia) on the conservation of indigenous ruminant livestock and aims at protecting and conserving their natural habitats. The SGP component of this project focused on capacity building, livelihood improvement and community-based environmental activities.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Nianija Kawral

Country:

Gambia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5- Y1 (Jul 11 - Jun 12)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 4,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 2,200.00

Project Number:

GMB/SGP/OP5/Y1/CORE/BD/11/14

Start Date:

8/2011

End Date:

7/2012

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

Each of the 3 participating communities had a vegetable garden funded by the project which specifically targeted the womenfolk and sought to improve their incomes and thus reduce their levels of poverty. This project component served as the main catalyst to make the SGP project a success.

Planning gef grant

If the project is successful, there could be opportunties to scale it up to a medium size GEF project.

Capacity - Building Component

It is envisioned that the capacities of the beneficiaries in the 3 project sites would be greatly enhanced through the various training programmes conducted.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The aim of the project was to improve the livelihoods of the local population by undertaking sound environmental practices and adopting sustainable practices in dealing with their natural resources.The project has a vegetable gardening component aimed at income generation to improve the livelihoods of the beneficiaries.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project also sought to increase public awareness on the global environment through various sensitization and training programmes conducted.

Policy Influence

The project aimed to influence both local and national policies in setting aside areas with biodiversity potentials as protected areas that are community managed. With the success of this project, it is hoped that similar undertaken by other communities with similar potentials would be undertaken.

Gender Focus

The project has a strong gender focus on women who were poised to benefit greatly from this project. Income generating actives such as vegetable gardening, basket weaving, small business enterprise development were inbuilt into the project.

Notable Community Participation

The project was implemented by a local CBO which has membership in all 3 beneficiary villages The local CBO was formed in response to taking matters into their own hands in dealing with the destruction of their environment.

Linkages gef projects

This project complemented the efforts of a much larger regional GEF project which aims to conserve biodiversity resources significant to agriculture. The SGP component funded the environmental component at the local community levels and focused on capacity building, livelihood enhancement and environmental restoration activities.

Project Results

- 30, 000 rhun palm seeds were sown on 6 hectares of community forests by 3 villages (Sinchu Dabba, Kayaye and Wellingara Alpha) in Nianija District of The Central River Region, The Gambia.

- 2 hectares of each rhun palm field, fenced with wooden fence posts and barbed wire.

- Seedlings of Kay senegalenisis, Gmelina and teak, planted along the perimetre of the fence.

- A 50 Msq fenced- vegetable garden (which is the sustainable livelihood component),with lined well completed in each of the 3 villages and the sale of the products has already become a soucre of income for the women.

- Beneficiary communities trained on vegetable garden production and business management and entrepreneurship.

-A tree nursery established for continuous provision of seedlings year round.

-training workshop on utilization of forest products conducted for community forest committee.

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