Gambia - Environmental action plan 1992-2001

GAMBIA REPORT E 6013 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN The Gambia Environmental Action Plan 1992-2001 Volume I May 1992 This report is property of Gambia  THE GAMBIA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 1992-2001 VOLUME I FINAL DRAFT BANJUL, THE GAMBIA MAY 7. 1992  COORDINATED BY: THE ENVIRONMENT UNIT OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT  TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE List of Abbrevitions iv Executive Su ary v CHAPITER 1 Introduction I 1.1 Purpose of the GEAP 1 1.2 The National Environmental Action Plan Process 2 1.2.1 The Origin and Requirements of the NEAP Process 2 1.2.2 The Aims of the NEAP Process 2 1.3 The GEAP Process 3 1.3.1 nihtion of the Procs 3 1.3.2 The Evolution of the Proc 3 1.4 Follow-up Actions Needed 4 1.4.1 Regular Review of the GEAP 4 1.4 2 Funding for the Initial Program and Project Actions 5 CHAPTER 2 Review of the State of the Emvironment and Natural Resources Management 6 2.1 The Rural Environment 6 2.1.1 Natural Resource Depletion 6 2.1.2 Environmental health 10 2.2 Ihe Urban and Coastal Environnent 11 2.2.1 Rapid and Uncontrolled Urbanisation 11 2.22 Degadation of the Coast 12 2.2.3 Groundwater Degradation 13 2.2A Problems of Physical PLn in the GBA 14 2.3 Energy 16 2.3.1 Fuelwood 16 2.3.2 Butave 17 2.3.3 Fossil fuel 17 2.3.4 Renewable energy 17 _;-  2.3.5 Geothermal and hydro power 18 2.3.6 Biomass 18 2.3.7 Wimd 18 2.3.8 Solar thermal technology 18 2.3.9 Solar pbotovoltaics (PV) 19 2.4 On-Going Environmentally-Related Programs 19 2.4.1 Wildlife Conservation 19 2A.2 Forestry 20 2.4.3 Soil and water management 20 2A.4 Livestock and Range Maagement 21 2.4.5 FLsheries 22 2.4.6 The Urban Management and Development Project 22 2.5 Existing Legal and Institutional Framework 23 2.5.1 Institutional Framework 23 2.S.2 Land tenure 30 2.6 Outstanding Issues 31 2.6.1 Natural Resource Sector 31 2.6.2 Urban and Coastal Environment 33 2.6.3 General Coordination of Institutions 34 2.6.4 Information Management 35 2.6.5 Public Awareness 35 2.6.6 International Cooperation 35 CHAPITER 3 Environmental Policy and Strateties 36 3.1 Economic Development 36 3.1.1 ERP and the Environmen 36 3.1.2 PSD and thc Eniromn 36 3.2 An Environmental Poliy Framework 37 3.2.1 Environmental Priorities fo0 Government Action 37 3.2.2 Policy Objectives 38 3.3 Programs 39 3.3.1 Program 1: Natura Resource Management 39 3.3.2 Program 2: Energy 39 3.3.3 Program 3: Environmental Health 40 3.4 Implementation Strategies 40 3.4.1 Institutional Framework Development 40 -U-  3.4.2 FLscal Meares for lmproved Envirommental Protection 41 3.4.3 Public aWares 41 3A.4 Information manaement 42 3.4.5 Population management 42 3.4.6 PovertY alleviation 42 3.5 Resourne Requirements 42 CHAPTER 4 Institutional and Leal Framwork for Impicmentation 45 4.1 The Existing Institutional Superstucture 45 4.1.1 The National Environment Management Council MNEMC 45 4.1.2 The Minstry of Natural Resources and The Environment 45 4.1.3 The Rationale for Change 47 4.2 The Proposed Institutional Chanes 48 4.2.1 Proposed Modification of the Institution2l Superstructure 48 4.2.2 The Interim Secretariat of the Council and Committ 49 4.2-3 Proposed changes in the Environment Unit 50 4.2A Proposed Activities and Staffmg 51 4.2.5 The Planning Unit 53 4.2.6 Proposed legislative changes 54 477 Membership of International Conventions 56 Annex I LAgisltion Relating to Environmental Protection In the Gambia 58 Annex 2 A Iist of Interational Conventions Relating to The Environment to which The Gambia is a Member 59 Annex 3 Recommended International Conventions for Membership consideration by The Gambia 60 ...-  LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADF African Development Fund BCC Ba*ul City Council CDA Community Development Association CILSS Comite lnter-Etats de Lutte Contre la Secheresse CRS Catholic Relief Services CTA Chief Technical Adviser DAR Department of Agricultural Research DAS Department of Agricultural Services DCD Department of Community Development DIS Department of Livestock Servies DPPH Department of Physical Planning and Housing DWR Department of Water Resources EDF Economic Development Fund EEC European Economic Community EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ETS Environmental Information System ERPISAP Economic Recovery and Structural Adjustment Programs ERR EcononmC Rate of Retuma EU Environment Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment FRG Federal Republic of Germany GBA Greater Banjul Area GDP Gross Domestic Product GEAP Gambia Environmental Action Plan GGFP Gambia - German Forest Project GIS Geographical Information System GNP Gross National Product GOTG Government of The Gambia GPAB Gambia Produce Marketing Board * - GREC Gambia Renewable Energy Centre GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Technicbe Zusammenarbeit GmbH GUC Gambia Utilities Corporation HPDD HUma1n Resources Development Division KMC KUDiG Municipal Council LRD Lower River Division MFEA Ministry of Fmnance and Economic Affairs MEPID Ministry of Economic Plaing and Industrial Development MHSW Ministry of Health and Social Welfare NI Macarthy Island Division MLGL Ministry of Local Government and Lands MNRE M!inistrY of Natural Resources and the Environment MOA Ministry of Agriculture ME Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment MWC Ministry of Works and Communications NBD North Bank Division NEAP National Environmental Action Man NEMC Natural Environment Management Council -iv-  NGO Non-Government Organi=tio1 NPC National Project Coordinator PCV Peace Corps Volunteer PEO Pricipl Environnent OfrIcer PEP Public Investment Program PP Pzncpal Plnner PS Permanent Secretar'y PSD Program for Sustained Development PU Planing Unit of the Ministry of Naturl ResourcEs and PV Photo Voltaic SEO Senior Environment Officer SNNP Sustainable Net Nation2I Product SWMU Soil and Water Management Uit TADB Tournsm Area Development Bard TANGO The Association of Non-Governmenl Orpnisatiou TC Tedinical Cooperation TDA Tourism Development Area TCPFP Tedinical Cooperation Policy Framework Paper UNCDF United Nations Capital Developmet Fund UNCED United Nations Conference an E2niroment and Development UNDP United Nations Development Program UNEP Unied Natons nvironmeunt P .rm UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund UNSO United Nations Sudano-Saherlan OffIice UNV United Nations Volunteer UMDP Urb Management and Development Project URD Upper River Division USA!D Unied States Agency for International Development VDC Village Development Committee mD Weern Division WHO Worid Health Organization WWF World Wildlife Fund -v-  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY lNTRODUCTION The Gambia Environmental Action Plan (GEAP) is primarily intended to provide a framework for national environmental policy planning and natural resource management decision-making OD a continuous basis It is therefore, an integral component of the Government's Program for Sustained Development (PSD). The GEAP process was initiated under the auspices of the National Environmental Management Council. Coordination of the preparation of the GEAP was carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Enviromnent (MNRE) through the Environment Unit (EU). The process commenced in February, 1991 with a Technical Consultative Workshop which was divided into three subject matter areas. This was followed by establishment of two Working Groups in March, one in-social services and the other in natural resources. This culminated in a Review Workshop held in July 1991, and the first draft of the GEAP. A third Working Group was established in December 1991. Their work resulted in the semi-final draft of the GEAP in January 1992. This draft was reviewed in a fnal technical Workshop in February 1992. The GEAP is divided into two volumes. The first which is the aetion plan covering the period 1992-2001, provides a review of the existing environmental situation and outlines approaches to deal with the problems, including institutional changes and other actions required. The second presents the investment program to support implementation of the GEAP in the first five year phase. THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMEN'T AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEEMENT The Gambia is faced with serious environmental problems The capability of traditional agricultural and pastoral production systems to provide food, shelter, and clothing has been exceeded by the rapidly growing population. The natural resource base upon which production depends is being rapidly depleted, accelerated by the introduction of mechanization in the exploitation of natural resources and the extrction of forest and other resources, without replacement, for commercial gain. This situation has been exacerbated by successive years of drought during the last two decades. The impoverishment of soil fertility through poor farming practices coupled with a long period of successive droughts has resulted in a decline in agricultural production. Poor management related to increasing extraction of fuelwood, intensive grazing, bashfires, timber cutting and expansion of agricultursl land has resulted in widespread land degradation and depletion of the vegetation cover. Associated with the latter are loss of wildlife and -vi-  reduction in reserves of undisturbed climas vegetation and biodiversity. The fisheries resources are likely to be adversely affected by a decrease in spwning :nd feeding areas resulting from siltation and harvesting of mangroves. Groundwater recharge rates have been negatively affected by reduced r2i!!f'& with consequent heightening of the dangers of salt-water intrusion and over-extraction of grond water. Increased rural poverty assoiated with the decline of agricultuml production as well as other factors has engendered rapid and uncontroDed urbauization. The rapid population build- ap in the Greater Banjul Area has resulted in overcrowding and extension of sprawfing suburbs into what were previouly woodlands, arable fields and villages with consequent overstretching of social services and infrastrcture. The enviro impact of all these process is manifest in poor environmental sanitation, high rates of environmental pollution and degradation of the contiguous coastal zone. The rural areas, particularly the growth centres, are experiencing similar environmental health problems. Issues of Environmental concern are handled by a large number of public institutions in The Gambia including non-governmental orgo-an-tions. The common problems of these public institutions are the scarcity of human, finaisl, and material rmre and an inadequte legal framework to carry out their mandates. This situation is aggravated by a laek of effective coordinaion of efforts and poor information management. The result is that well-intentioned programs for the protection of the environment and sustainable development of natural resources bave failed to avert accelerated environmental degadation and natral resource depletion. A lack of adequate public awareness of environmental issues remains a major constraint to the success of these programs. ENVIRONNTAL POLICY The Government's Economic Recovery and Structural Adjustment Programs (ERPISAP) policy package succeeded in achieving substantial improvement in tie performance of the economy. However, while environmental degradation has been variously quoted ss a constraint to economic growth in various policy documents, there has not been ay vWisible attempt to incorporate environmental considerations in the criteria for project selection for inclusion in the Public Investment Program (PIPM. Attempts to deal with environmental problems within a coherent policy framework in The Gambia date back to the Banjul Declaration of 1977. A series of institutional developments followed, including the creation of the Environment Unit, establishment of the Ministy of Natural Resources and the Environment and recently, the ensctment of the National Environment Management Act of 1987. However, public interventions to address environmental problems remain sectoral in perception and uncoordinated in terms of policy objectives. The Government recognizes the fact that policy alone cannot remedy this situation. To correct this requires a strong commitment to the principle of broad-based participation at all levels of -viir  planning and implementation of enviromental policies. Public interventions to ameliorate environmental problems wim be dc towards weldl defimed policy objectives which are based on a clear definition of sectoral and environmental prioriies consistent with the ovrall goal of sustainable development. A summary of policy objectives, programs, and implementation strategies aimed at erosring environmentally safe development follows. GAMBIA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN STRATEGY FRAMEWORK 1. POLICY OBJECTIVE: TO CONSERVE AND PROMOTE THE RATIONAL USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. Problerm addressed: * bushre damage * drought and growing scarciy of water resourc's ' inadequat land uselnatural resoure planning * degradation of vegetation and lass or forest cover * soil degradation and reduction in fertility reduction in fish stocks * coastal erosion 2. POLICY OBJECTIVE: TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL GAMBIANS THROUGH SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. rokblem addressed: wate-r supply reduction and water-borne pollution poor sanitation * waste managemenat and disposal * deleterious use of inorganic fertilizers and groundwater pollution 'isnappropiate use of pesticides and resultant contamination * rapid and uncontrolled urbanizaton * coastal pollution ' groundwater degradation and salinization * lack of adequate physical planning * inappropriate and inadequate infrastrcture 3. POLICY OBJECTIVE: TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE TIHE EQULIBRM OF ECOSYSTEMS. Problems add