Climate Change in Sudan: Forests as the First Line of Defense for Recovery| Sudanow Magazine

Khartoum (Sudanow) — As the impacts of climate change accelerate, forests are no longer a marginal environmental concern. They have become a central pillar of food and water security, poverty reduction, and community stability. From this perspective, Sudanow met with Dr. Abdelazim Mirghani, university professor, Secretary-General of the National Council for Combating Desertification at the Ministry of Environment, and former Director General of the National Forests Corporation.

Dr. Mirghani explained that the United Nations adopted the first Global Strategic Plan for Forests (2017–2030), which aims to halt the ongoing degradation of forests and increase global forest area by 3 percent—equivalent to approximately 120 million hectares—by 2030.

For Sudan, the significance of this plan extends beyond international commitments. It represents a genuine opportunity to rebuild the relationship between the state and its forest resources. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Sudan’s forest area was estimated at about 18.3 million hectares in 2020, representing roughly 9.9 percent of the country’s total land area. This places Sudan among countries with low forest cover compared to African and global averages.

Sudan’s forest sector faces mounting pressures, most notably unregulated agricultural expansion, widespread dependence on firewood and charcoal as primary energy sources, as well as the impacts of armed conflict and population displacement. Collectively, these factors have contributed to declining forest cover, land degradation, and increased risks of desertification, flooding, and drought—particularly in the Nile basin and its tributaries.

Global forest goals intersect directly with Sudan’s development priorities. The first goal—halting forest loss and restoring degraded forests—is closely linked to the country’s capacity to adapt to climate change, protect soils, and preserve watershed divides. Strengthening sustainable forest management and expanding afforestation and reforestation activities offer practical pathways to improving agricultural productivity without expanding at the expense of natural forests.

The second goal, which focuses on maximizing the economic and social benefits of forests, holds particular relevance for Sudan, where millions of rural households depend on forest resources for their livelihoods. Gum arabic, alongside non-timber forest products, regulated grazing, and community forests, represents one of the most promising economic opportunities for poverty reduction and income generation—provided these resources are managed within participatory frameworks that ensure sustainability and fair benefit-sharing.

On the financing front, international environmental agreements—most notably the Climate Change Convention and the Convention to Combat Desertification—offer Sudan broad opportunities to mobilize financial resources dedicated to forest and landscape restoration. These include programs for afforestation, agroforestry, rehabilitation of gum arabic belts, and restoration of degraded lands. However, access to such funding remains contingent upon improved governance, policy coherence, and the meaningful involvement of local communities as key partners in planning and implementation.

The recent war has further exacerbated forest degradation, as large-scale displacement has placed unprecedented pressure on natural resources. Unofficial estimates suggest that rates of illegal tree cutting have increased three to fourfold in some areas compared to pre-conflict levels, particularly around major cities and displacement camps. In White Nile State alone, which hosts more than 500,000 refugees, average per capita firewood consumption is estimated at one cubic meter annually, leading to the removal of vast areas of tree cover.

Military operations have also disrupted field-based forest protection systems, halted the work of forest administrations in several states, and damaged nurseries and research centers. In some regions, forests have been transformed into battlegrounds or direct sources of fuel and construction materials, accelerating forest loss.

Despite the suspension or decline of national programs that previously aimed to increase forest cover to 20 percent of Sudan’s land area before the war, their revival remains possible through community-based management and restoration models, drawing on international experiences that link reforestation with peacebuilding and improved livelihoods.

Monitoring environmental recovery will be a critical component of the next phase. This can be achieved through the use of remote sensing technologies, satellite imagery, and the development of national indicators to track vegetation cover, soil conditions, and biodiversity—alongside the involvement of universities and research centers in building accurate and comprehensive databases.

In concluding his remarks to Sudanow, Dr. Abdelazim noted that Sudan’s commitments under the Global Strategic Plan for Forests should not be viewed as an additional burden, but rather as an opportunity to launch a national project that restores forests to their role as drivers of stability and development. When forests are managed as long-term productive assets and local communities are actively engaged in their protection, they can shift from zones of vulnerability to natural lines of defense against climate change, poverty, and conflict.

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