The West African Birds Study Association (WABSA) in collaboration with The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) on Saturday launched a one-year “Youths Eco-Bridge Project” in Kasewa Village in Upper Niumi District, North Bank Region.

In his speech, Adviser to WABSA who doubles as the President of The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS), Jato Sillah expressed his profound gratitude to UNDP for funding the project.

“The project is timely and it is a good initiative because the whole North Bank Region needs to be green. That will counter windbreaks and desert encroachment will also be stop,” Sillah explained to the Kasewa community.

Mr. Sillah said the project will also create micro-climate change and climate change in the North Bank Region, adding that it is part of the UNDP intention to cover the whole country , especially the northern parts of the country.

Speaking earlier, the executive director, WABSA, Lamin Jobate said WABSA was formed in 1994 to support Government and non-governmental agencies to formulate policies that will effectively mainstream birds study and environmental protection, which he said play a vital role in sustainable development of the country.

According to Mr. Jobate, 2500 bags of mangrove propagules will be planted within a one-year period adding that the project was launched in Kasewa village but will be extended to other communities in the region.

Jobate said the project is funded by the UNDP and is targeting the youth folk within NBR. NBR is severely hit by drought thus the project comes to address climate crisis issues hence youths form the workforce of the country.

The project he added will provide green jobs for Kasewa villagers, its catchment communities and NBR communities in general while GRCS and WABSA are implementing the project.

Alkallo of Kasewa village, Alieu Mendy, Mariama Berti, Isatou Njie and Pierre Mendy both commended UNDP and WABSA for taking the lead and funding of the project. Similar exercise was held at Darslami village in Jokadou on Sunday.

By Dawda Baldeh