Strengthening community forest governance

In The Gambia, forest dependent communities rely on woodland resources for fuel, timber, food and income. Yet for decades, limited legal recognition of community rights restricted people’s ability to manage forests sustainably or benefit from the resources they safeguarded. With support from the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), this gap has begun to close – ushering in a new era of community owned forest governance.

At a landmark ceremony in April 2025 in Janjanbureh in the Central River region, the Honourable Minister Rohey John Manjang formally handed over 13 community forest management agreements (CFMAs) to local communities.

She praised the partnership between FFF and the Department of Forestry in promoting sustainable forest and farm management, describing FFF as pivotal in advancing community based forest governance.

The minister emphasised the FFF programme strengthens organisations and platforms at all levels to influence policies and investments that reflect local priorities.

Forest and Farm Facility activities

In 2025, FFF collaborated with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources and the Department of Forestry to facilitate the official designation of 29 community forest areas (CFAs), covering over 2,330 hectares. This milestone marks one of the most significant expansions of communal forest rights in the country.

Through CFMAs, tenure rights to land and trees were transferred to communities, giving them full ownership, management authority and user rights over forest resources.

FFF support was essential in enabling this transition, providing technical assistance for stakeholder consultations, strengthening community institutions and training leaders in governance, mapping, forest inventory and negotiation.

It also fostered dialogue between the Department of Forestry and local representatives to ensure transparent, inclusive agreements aligned with national policy. These efforts helped communities articulate their priorities and understand their responsibilities under the new legal framework.

Significance of impact

The designation of CFAs represents a shift from centralised forest control to community led stewardship.

Secure tenure now enables communities to make decisions about restoration, harvesting and sustainable use. They can protect forests from illegal logging, invest confidently in enrichment planting, and develop enterprises in timber, fuelwood, honey and other non timber forest products.

Clear rights also strengthen accountability, revitalise traditional knowledge and encourage greater participation from women and young people. Tenure security reduces land use conflicts, limits pressures to convert land use and supports long term conservation planning.

Early results show improved local livelihoods and better forest management, with communities regulating harvesting, planning restoration and exploring market opportunities for sustainably sourced products.

Conclusion

FFF’s support has strengthened community forest governance in The Gambia by securing legal ownership and management rights for thousands of forest dependent people.

The designation of 29 CFAs marks a transformative shift towards equitable, community driven forest management – laying the foundation for healthier ecosystems, stronger rural economies and empowered communities.

The commitment shown by government leaders and community members at the Janjanbureh ceremony reflects a shared determination to sustain these gains well into the future.

Further reading

News: FAO's Forest and Farm Facility transforms lives in The Gambia, FAO (2024)

Democratising forest business: a compendium of successful locally controlled forest business organisations, Duncan Macqueen, Anna Bolin, Martin Greijmans (eds) (2015), project report