By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
The President of the Gmelina Peg and Supporters Association has urged the Department of Forestry to recruit additional forest guards and officers to combat rampant illegal waste dumping at Nyambai Forest Park and other protected areas across the country.
Lamin Sunno made the call on Saturday, May 2, 2026, during a community cleansing exercise organized by his association in partnership with the Timber Domestic Dealers Association and the Department of Forestry. He also advocated for stricter penalties against offenders.
“My advice to the forestry department and its new director is for them to employ more forestry officers who will be on constant monitoring of the forest. Without this, it will be virtually impossible to combat illegal indiscriminate dumping in the nation’s forest parks, particularly Nyambai,” Sunno told The Alkamba Times (TAT).
He expressed deep concern over the continued dumping of waste in the forest, warning of severe environmental and health risks. “It is very unfortunate that people are still dumping in the forest without considering the dangers associated with such activities. God forbid if there is a fire outbreak; not only will the plants die, but it will affect both animals and humans who depend on the forest,” he said.
Sunno recalled the disciplined approach to forest protection during the era of former President Sir Dawda Jawara, when forestry officers worked seven days a week, equipped with bicycles and protective gear for regular patrols. “This is no longer happening, paving the way for unscrupulous elements to disguise themselves under the shadows of the weekend to dump waste in the parks indiscriminately,” he lamented.
He described the scale of the problem at Nyambai as “unbelievable” and called for urgent intervention. “I strongly believe that if we are to combat this persistent indiscriminate dumping and illegal logging in our forest parks, there is a need to employ more forest officers who are well equipped with bicycles and vehicles to do their job effectively,” Sunno emphasized.
He proposed assigning officers to specific areas with clear accountability and urged the government to impose heavy fines on offenders. Additionally, Sunno recommended that revenue from forest products be reinvested in the department to provide the necessary equipment for effective monitoring.
On the challenges facing the association, he appealed to the Department of Forestry and partners for financial support to sustain regular cleansing exercises. He also called for faster documentation processes for members, noting that with adequate backing, the association could organize monthly clean-ups while contributing meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development.
Madi Sisawo, Public Relations Officer of the Gmelina Peg Association, issued a strong warning to those engaged in illegal dumping. “We call on all engaging in illegal and indiscriminate dumping of waste at the Nyambai Forest Park to stop immediately. Our association will not condone such activities, and legal action could be taken against anyone found wanting,” he stated.
Sisawo identified residents and cart owners from Brikama, Nyambai, and Farato as major perpetrators and urged local leaders in these communities to take responsibility and discourage the practice.
Lamin Sawaneh, representing the Department of Forestry, and Ebrima Barry, Secretary General of the Timber Domestic Dealers Association, both participated in the cleansing exercise. They expressed gratitude to the Gmelina Peg and Supporters Association for their consistent efforts.
“Such activities will go a long way in protecting the parks against fire outbreaks as well as minimizing the dangers of poisonous elements from seeping into the water tables of multiple boreholes dotted in the forest parks,” they noted.
The joint cleansing exercise highlighted growing public-private collaboration in environmental protection, but participants agreed that sustained government support and stricter enforcement remain critical to preserving Gambia’s forest heritage.
