This year, World Environment Day 2025 carried a theme that resonates deeply with our mission at ECOLUM: โOur Soil, Our Future, Our Responsibility.โ Soil is more than the ground beneath our feet it is the living foundation of our economy, food systems, and climate resilience. Without healthy soils, there is no sustainable future.
To mark this global occasion, ECOLUM proudly partnered with The Soil Solution NGO, a renowned organization led by leading soil scientists, to raise awareness and mobilize action on soil health and land restoration in The Gambia. Together, we organized community dialogues, educational activities, and policy advocacy sessions aimed at highlighting the urgent need to protect our soils and ensure that land restoration is placed at the heart of sustainable development.
”As part of our engagement, we emphasized that environmental sustainability must move beyond rhetoric to concrete legislative and community-driven action. ECOLUM continues to support the work of the National Assembly, where progressive reforms are underway through the upcoming National Environmental Bill. This bill integrates soil health, land restoration, and community-led climate adaptation into national law, replacing outdated frameworks such as the National Environment Management Act (NEMA 1994) and the Forestry Act 2018” highlighted by our executive director Hon. Abdoulie Njai who served as guest panelist. The bill also advances The Gambiaโs commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the G20 Global Land Initiative, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable land governance.
Statistics show that over 65% of Gambian land is at risk of degradation, placing food security, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods in jeopardy. This stark reality calls for bold and coordinated action to regenerate soils, promote climate-smart agriculture, and empower local communities especially youth and women to lead on-the-ground solutions.
At ECOLUM, we believe that soil restoration is a shared responsibility. By listening to the soil and acting decisively, we can restore degraded land, strengthen our food systems, and build a greener, stronger Gambia. We call on all stakeholders leaders, farmers, scientists, and citizens to join us in this mission of hope and responsibility. Together, with strong partnerships and forward-looking policies, we can turn the tide of land degradation and safeguard the foundation of our shared future. Panel included Mr. Ebrima Jarra executive director soil solution, representative from ministry of agriculture, director of shonghai initiative under ministry of youth and sports and attended by soil enthusiasts, university students among others.
Published Ecolum: June 2025