Low Emission Climate Resilient Development Strategy of the Gambia (LECRDS) 2018-2030.

This Low Emission Climate Resilient Development Strategy (LECRDS) moves from the consideration that Gambia is among the countries most at risk from the projected adverse impacts of climate change and that the country needs to be moved from a brown development pathway to a green one. The Strategy is structured into ten chapters: 1) introduction, including: methodology, key development issue and priorities, past and on-going climate change and related risk management actions; 2) climate change impacts on selected sectors, including: assessment of existing greenhouse gas emissions of selected sectors (energy, transport, fishery, waste industry, agriculture and forestry), projected greenhouse gas emissions to 2020-2050, vulnerability scenarios of the sectors; 3) mitigation and adaptation options towards a low-emission climate resilient development; 4) Strategy Framework, including: approach, vision, goals objectives and principles, priority climate change response strategy; 5) Action Plan; 6) implementation of the Strategy and its Action Plan; 7) funding and resource mobilisation Strategy; 8) further actions, including: legislative, policy and regulatory measures; 9) monitoring, reporting and verification of Strategy and Action Plan implementation; 10) conclusion and recommendations.
Concerning climate change impacts on various sectors, the Strategy shows a general increase in total emissions during the ten-year period between 2001-2010, while general summary of results, with projections 2020-2050, suggests that the country will be warmer and drier. The Strategy defines some mitigation options, including: increasing renewable energy sources, improved animal genetics, restoration of degraded grazing lands, post-harvest and food processing technology, improving harvesting and wildlife management to remove related causes of forest fires, afforestation, enhanced forest management, energy efficiency, substitution of fuel with biofuels. Concerning vulnerability of each sector, the Strategy identifies the following issues: decreased productivity of crops, due to the decline in amount and distribution of rainfall and the increasing soil salinisation as a result of sea level rise; loss of animal production of cattle and small ruminants, like goats and sheep and consequent decrease in reproductive rates; declining Atlantic fish resources ,due to increasing fishing intensity, irresponsible fishing practices and climate change; loss of mangroves and salt marsh vegetation may affect fish species abundance, composition and distribution; reduction of some pelagic fish populations; threatens to food security; decline in standing forest biomass; disruptions in delivery of petroleum and electricity supply; increasing temperatures result in higher fuel consumption and increased GHG emissions; forest degradation due to consumption of woody biomass to supply fuelwood; decline in forestry resources; increasing in forest fire hazards, due to dry conditions and high temperatures.
The Strategy defines its vision and mission as the creation of a sustainable relationship between economy, environment and society, capable to manage climate change adaptation into other resource management, disaster preparedness, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable development programmes, engaging all stakeholders especially the most vulnerable communities and groups, increasing energy security, food security, water security and human security. In order to achieve these goals, the Strategy identifies adaptation and mitigation measures and priority strategies related to each sector, for low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways, including: promotion of energy efficiency and uptake of renewable energy sources; enhancement of waste management systems to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; application of climate-smart and conservation agriculture, adoption of new crops varieties and adjusting the time of planting and harvesting; introduction of integrated soil-fertility management systems and integrated water management practices; management of rangelands and pastures by managing grazing systems and fires; integrated management of crops and livestock, including the modification of herd composition, the variation of species and breeds; improving animal nutrition in order to reduce emissions; restoration of degraded lands, application of erosion control, soil and water conservation, improvement of land and soil, including drainage, desalinisation; management of coastal and fisheries resources through promotion of aquaculture and non-destructive fishing techniques to maintain resilience of marine ecosystems; facilitation of disaster management through strengthening of climate early warning systems, drought and flooding contingency plans.