BAJ Gambia joins international community in celebrating world biodiversity day

Amie Faye BAJ Gambia Director of Communications

Biodiversity Action Journalists Gambia well known as BAJ Gambia joins the international community in celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) or (World Biodiversity Day) 22 May, 2014

The IDBD is an annual event that seeks to increase the people’s understanding and awareness on key issues about biodiversity, with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) composed of 193 member- countries leading the event’s celebration throughout the world.

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 of each year for celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity to commemorate the adoption of the text of the CBD on May 22, 1992.

With the theme “Island Biodiversity,” this year’s celebration of IDBD is focused on helping to create awareness on the rich natural resources that our country’s island ecosystems harbor. Unknown too many, islands contain a unique assemblage of life and the isolation of these areas has since resulted in the emergence of unique species, each with distinct genetic characteristics.

Biodiversity is an important natural resource in The Gambia, playing a significant role in the livelihoods of the local population.  The Gambia’s biodiversity resource is depleting, putting in jeopardy its potential to serve as a safety net for the poor. Currently, biodiversity is treated as an environmental issue and addressed at the national level by government through ministry of environment and its partners including private sector.

Here are few things you can do to help biodiversity

Be a volunteer one of the nature center, park, or a zoo.

Don’t use hazardous pesticides; they can kill plants and animals.

Minimize paper printing to save our forests.

Paper /plastic recycling for economic benefits.

Always use eco-friendly cleaning products.

BAJ Gambia recognized the efforts of government of The Gambia, through its ministries for recognising the vital roles plays by the private sector in complementing the efforts of the government in the protection and conservation of the country’s biological and natural resources.

BAJ Gambia acknowledge and appreciate the support of the Ministry of Environment, Parks and Wildlife Management, National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Gambia Press Union (GPU), Green Tech, Department of Water Resources, Department of Fishery, Department of Forestry among others for their unflinching support in its efforts to achieve desire goals.

For further information contact:

Ms. Amie Faye Director of Communications BAJ Gambia

Address: 103 Kombo Sillah Drive

                Churchill’s Town

                Brikama Highway

Tel: +220 6361340/7142236/3938929/6181700

Email: bajgambia2011@gmail.com

            bajgambia2011@yahoo.com

Website: www.bajgambia.org

Facebook: BAJ-Gambia

Twitter; @bajgambia