Report on the Gambia / Colonial Office.

Date:: [1955]

Credit: Report on the Gambia / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

30/94 page 28

$there exist about 131 \ square miles of mediocre woodland in Forest Parks established by Native Authorities in the Protectorate, together with 1,039 square miles of remnant tree savannah and bush, plus 234 square miles of riparian mangrove. There is thus still a considerable field for the extension of reservation, subject only to the will of Native Authorities. Afforestation programmes absorbed 21,800 plants and cuttings of hardwood species, so bringing the total area of existing plantations to about 380 acres. Some interest in saw-milling was evinced by two concerns during 1955, but it remained to be seen whether it would develop. Meantime, hand-sawyers continued the production of mahogany timber on a small scale. Forest industry, only just emerging, has yet to be developed and organised, having regard to various opportunities that seemingly exist for lucrative enterprise—as, for example, bee-keeping. First attention, however, focuses upon timber production and plans are being formu¬ lated for the adquate control of existing and potential lumbering undertakings, notwithstanding that existing stands of merchantable timber are so small and scattered that little more than sporadic exploitation can be contemplated for some time to come. Current marketing of timber is accordingly of trifling extent and thus far has consisted merely of supply by hand-sawyers to a small agency in Bathurst, which conducts sales of timber and charcoal as a side line. Prices paid to producers have been currently in the region of 12.s. per cubic foot for unseasoned mahogany, whilst occasional supply of Rhun Palms (Borassus aethiopiiim, Mart.), as round timber, com¬ manded prices averaging about 31s. per stem ; charcoal was priced around 2s. 6d. per cwt., delivered in Bathurst. Staff and Finance Salaried staff of the Forestry Department at the close of 1955 comprised one Forestry Adviser, one Clerical Assistant, three Forest Rangers and three Forest Guards. Expenditure of Government funds for the two years amounted to £3,800 for Personal Emoluments, and £4,320 under Other Charges. Additionally, and during the same period, District Authorities contri¬ buted £890 for staff and £1,181 for protective operations. Revenue collections, mainly effected by District Authorities, amounted to £1,262 for the two year period. There is reason to believe, however, that a considerable margin of timber and fuel exploitation escapes payment of royalty, and this is under investigation. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY The Veterinary Department In 1952 the Veterinary Departments of Sierra Leone and the Gambia were reorganised as separate departments. This arrangement$

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