National Forest Action Plan (NFAP) 2019-2028.

This National Forest Action Plan establishes practical guidance on the implementation of the Department of Forestry strategy directions and programmes of sustainable forest management in the decade 2019-2028, moving from the consideration that forests in The Gambia provide economic, social and environmental benefits, offering a safe habitat for plants and wildlife, and mitigating negative effects of climate change. Thus, the Action Plan addresses the linkages between forestry, biodiversity, and poverty reduction, showing their complementarities in sustainable economic development. The main goals of the Action Plan are: the restoration of the natural balance and sustainable production and use of forest resources; the substantial increase of afforestation and reforestation; ensuring continuous flow of desired forest goods and services without undue reduction of our forest productivity; enhancing and maintaining the economic, social and environmental values of the country’s forests for the present and future generations. The Action Plan is structured as follows: chapter 1, including: background, purposes and objectives of the National Forest Action Plan; review and planning process. Chapter 2: forest biodiversity; sustainable use and consumption of forest resources; challenges and responses; vision, missions, goals and programmes of the Forestry Department. Chapter 3: Strategy implementation, including: governance of forest resources; inclusive programme of growth and diversity; community forestry and alternative livelihoods; enhancing research and development. Chapter 4: core programmatic areas, including: integrated forest fire management; agro-forestry; community forestry; nursery and plantation development.
Focusing on the strategy implementation, this Action Plan concerns: institutional development and capacity building, in order to provide efficient forestry services and manage effective forest resources; increasing protection mechanisms for minimising unsustainable and illegitimate timber trade; increasing the monitoring in all forest sites, especially in protected and community forests; enhancement of integrated resource management programmes; development of information and communication system; development of a comprehensive resource mobilisation Plan targeting institutions, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and private sector; promoting the conservation of biological diversity in protected forest areas; improvement of public awareness of ecological benefits; establishment of additional protected forest areas; restoration of threatened ecosystems; promotion of forest sites for the conservation of ecosystems and genetic resources; encouraging farmers to practice agroforestry, in order to improve: smallholder livestock production, land regeneration through planting new trees, soil health and food security with fruit trees, medicinal trees for pest and disease control, timber and fuelwood trees for shelter and energy; climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.