MWE Correspondent
Senior forestry and wildlife officials from across Africa gathered in Banjul, The Gambia, to inaugurate the 25th session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC25) alongside the 9th Africa Forestry and Wildlife Week (AFWW9).
The event brought together ministers, conservation experts, international agencies, and civil society representatives, all emphasizing urgent action to tackle climate change, deforestation, and threats to wildlife.
Opening the week-long conference, the FAO Regional Representative for Africa, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, praised The Gambia for its efforts in restoring forests and promoting sustainable land management. He highlighted ongoing FAO initiatives supporting member states, including forest monitoring systems, mangrove protection, the Great Green Wall project, and community-based biodiversity programs. However, he warned that Africa continues to face mounting pressures from climate change, urging innovative financing, robust policies, and strengthened regional cooperation to safeguard the continent’s natural resources.
A representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in The Gambia, Mandisa Mashologu, underscored that climate impacts are already affecting water supplies, food security, and livelihoods across the continent. She reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting early-warning systems, disaster preparedness, renewable energy adoption, and ecological restoration efforts to help countries build resilience against environmental shocks.
Representing the outgoing AFWC Chair, a senior forestry official from Tanzania congratulated The Gambia for successfully hosting the session after another country was unable to do so.
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He emphasized this year’s theme, “inclusive and innovative forest and wildlife management in Africa,” stressing that collaboration and knowledge-sharing between nations is critical to building sustainable solutions.
The resolutions from the Banjul meeting are expected to shape Africa’s strategic position ahead of the next FAO regional conference scheduled for April 2026. On the first day, opening speeches called for strengthened protection of forests, wildlife, and communities most affected by climate change, setting the stage for discussions on innovative conservation strategies, policy frameworks, and regional collaboration.
As Africa faces unprecedented environmental challenges, gatherings like AFWC25 and AFWW9 aim to unite stakeholders around practical solutions, ensuring that the continent’s forests and wildlife are protected for generations to come. The conference also highlights the importance of integrating climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development across all national and regional strategies.
