by Fatou Sanneh
The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Hon. Rohey John-Manjang, has urged communities to take ownership of climate resilience projects to ensure their sustainability and long-term impact.
The Minister made the call during the Ministry’s recently concluded five-day second quarterly project monitoring mission, which visited ongoing project sites and engaged beneficiaries, local communities, and implementing partners to assess progress, identify challenges, and explore practical measures to strengthen project implementation.
Speaking at the Rural Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building (RICAR) Project woodlot intervention site in Kerr Kosa, Central River Region (CRR), Hon. Manjang emphasised that community ownership is critical to ensuring that project benefits are sustained long after external support has ended.
She also cautioned communities against associating development projects with individuals, stressing that such initiatives are community assets that should be protected and managed collectively for the benefit of present and future generations.
“When we attach a name or an individual to a project, what happens when that person is no longer there? The project can fail. These projects belong to the community, and communities must take ownership of them,” she emphasized.
The Minister also encouraged communities to promote sustainable harvesting practices that would allow them to benefit from forest resources without putting unnecessary pressure on the environment.
She further called for greater environmental awareness among young people, urging parents and community leaders to teach children about the importance of protecting and sustainably managing natural resources.
“Let us teach our children to about the environment management and instill in them the importance of protecting and sustaining our natural resources,” she said.
The Director of Forestry, Col. Salifu Corr, reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to supporting the Kerr Kosa community and pledged to provide additional seedlings to facilitate the continued development and expansion of the woodlot.
The monitoring mission also visited Hosnanu Anglais in the Central River Region (CRR), another RICAR project intervention site, where the community is implementing a Local Climate Action Plan to address climate-related challenges.
Among the key interventions observed was the construction of a trench designed to reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and enhance agricultural productivity.
According to the village spokesperson, Mr. Madiba Camara, the intervention has significantly reduced soil erosion and improved the retention of soil nutrients, creating better conditions for agricultural production.
The Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairman, Mr. Bully Tunkara, welcomed the intervention but appealed for additional support to reinforce the embankment and ensure its long-term durability and sustainability.
The five-day monitoring mission forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight of climate and environmental projects, assess their impact on communities, and ensure that interventions are effectively implemented and sustained.
It also provided an opportunity for the Ministry and its partners to engage directly with beneficiaries, identify implementation gaps, and agree on practical measures to enhance project performance and maximise benefits for communities.
