Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – In a recent press release dated 10th May 2024, the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs of The Gambia announced a decisive step to protect the Tanbi Wetlands at Cape Point, Kanifing Municipality.

Effective immediately, all allocations and construction activities within the protected area are suspended.

This move comes in response to concerning land transactions that pose a potential threat to the protected wetland, marine resources, and residents of Cape Point and its surroundings.

The Tanbi Wetland, spanning 6,000 hectares, is a Ramsar Convention protected site located on the southern channel of the River Gambia, primarily occupied by mangroves, and extends to the west and south west of Banjul.

It serves as a hydrological buffer zone for Banjul, retaining water, stabilizing shorelines, retaining sediments and nutrients, and controlling erosion.

Urban settlement and residential expansion in the wetland From Banjul along the Bund road to Cape Point, going to Jeshwang up to Tallinding, raise questions about who is selling parts of the swamp. People develop buildings through the muddy wetland, often causing damage to the mangrove and dangerously tampering with the stabilizing and retainer role of the Tanbi ecosystem.

To address these violations comprehensively, the Lands Ministry is establishing a Taskforce in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment.

The Taskforce’s mandate includes investigating the violations, preventing further unauthorized transactions, and preserving the Tambi Wetland’s ecosystem.

Ebrima G. Sankareh, the Government Spokesperson & Presidential Diaspora Adviser, emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding this natural resource for future generations.

The Taskforce’s strategic actions aim to ensure the Tanbi Wetland remains protected and preserved. Environmental activists believe that the suspension of land allocations and constructions should also be extended to every area covered by the Tanbi, including, Bund Road, Jeshwang, Ebo Town and Tallinding.