By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Gambia has officially launched its National Network under the Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM), marking a significant step toward sustainable management of coastal ecosystems amid growing threats from climate change.
The launch event, held on Tuesday, December 9, at a local hotel in Banjul, brought together environmentalists, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to inaugurate the PRCM Gambia National Network. The initiative is part of the regional component of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP), supported by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the World Bank.
Dawda Foday Saine, PRCM Country Coordinator for The Gambia, emphasized the critical role of sustainable coastal and marine management in bolstering food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity.
“Sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems is essential as it directly supports and enhances food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity,” Saine stated. He highlighted the need to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate harmful environmental practices to combat climate change, which he described as a real threat undermining marine resources relied upon by billions.
Saine further explained that the PRCM project addresses pressing challenges, including rapid urbanization, overexploitation of natural resources, and climate change impacts. It aims to improve community preparedness, adaptation, and resilience while fostering regional collaboration and policy influence across West Africa.
The PRCM has established national networks in several countries, including Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, creating a unified platform for advancing conservation in the subregion.
EVA Cabo, the PRCM Regional Coordinator, revealed that the project supports civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on environmental, coastal, and marine issues. Over recent years, PRCM has mobilized environmental groups in seven countries to form national networks, with recent establishments in Senegal, Mauritania, and Sierra Leone. A similar meeting is scheduled for this week in Guinea.
Cabo urged Gambian environmentalists, marine experts, and conservationists to embrace the project, stressing that protecting natural resources will enhance livelihoods, boost food security, and address climate change and global warming.
Other speakers at the event expressed strong support for the initiative and thanked WACA, UEMOA, and the World Bank for funding this vital project in The Gambia.
The PRCM, a longstanding coalition involving partners such as IUCN and WWF, continues to promote coordinated action for West Africa’s coastal zones, now strengthened by the WACA ResIP framework to build resilience for current and future generations.
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