The Gunjur Environmental Protection and Development Group (GEPADG), also known as CHEC-Gambia, is a pioneering community-based NGO founded in 1992 in Gunjur, The Gambia. Established to address coastal degradation and community poverty, the organization specializes in biodiversity conservation, sustainable environmental management, and local economic empowerment.

GEPADG’s crowning achievement is the management of the Bolong Fenyo Community Wildlife Reserve, which became Gambia’s first community-owned protected area in 2008. The reserve safeguards critical habitats for migratory birds, sea turtles, and diverse flora. Beyond wildlife protection, the group actively combats climate change through large-scale mangrove reforestation and coastal monitoring.

Deeply committed to sustainable livelihoods, GEPADG empowers local women and youth through eco-tourism, agroforestry, and sustainable beekeeping initiatives. By blending environmental advocacy with community development, CHEC-Gambia serves as a model for community-led conservation, protecting The Gambia's vital marine and coastal ecosystems for future generations.