This project has been tailor-made by TICOS and is funded entirely by offset funds raised by The Gambia Experience, The Cape Verde Experience and Corsican Places. It provides funding for community tree planting in the Gambia. In addition to supporting the planned 2009 tree planting programme, The Gambia Experience have also pledged to support one of TICOS’ newly signed off projects, TP060 - Gambia Fuel Efficient Stoves.
Ten thousand trees were planted during the rainy season (July/August) 2007 in three community sites in the south of the Gambia. A further 2,500 trees were planted in July 2008 to replace any losses. TICOS has now carried out the necessary verification to confirm that more than 10,000 trees have survived and are healthy. Growing conditions have been excellent with an annual first years growth in some cases of almost two metres. All trees are subject to 20 year signed management agreements with landowners. The 10,000 trees planted will offset a total of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 during the twenty years using figures provided by the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development.
Current plans are to plant a further 10,000 trees in 2009. These are being grown from transplants of indigenous trees collected as seedlings by local people and being grown on in the Gambia is Good community farm.
These trees have all been chosen for their wider benefits including food and nut trees, fruit trees and many Gmaligna. This tree is particularly beneficial for providing nectar for the bees kept by hundreds of people in the Gambia. Honey is used for food, for health and medicine, for cash sales and for beauty products.
All trees are protected for at least 20 years through management agreements signed by the village Alkalo (village head) on behalf of each community. TICOS provides an experienced forester to help with maintenance and the replacement of any trees damaged or lost, and long term management is exercised by the Travel Foundation’s national advisor.
Planting Progress, October 2008
The villagers of Sifoe in particular will be delighted to show any tourists the trees planted by their funds and provide you with honey based products. The photographs below show a planting ceremony in Sifoe attended by Gambia Experience, TICOS and the Travel Foundation. It was supported by the whole village. The village elders all planted a tree and the site was blessed by the village Iman. TICOS also contributed to the event by planting 50 trees to help to offset staff flights.
Planting Ceremony in Sifoe
Additional benefits of tree planting