Forests in Sudan…a bone stone for food security and sustainable development| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan( Sudanow) ‘’Numbers are the world language’’ as the famous scientist Galileo said and it is key- word to understand the situation and make decision. But statistics may abused badly if doesn’t read carefully so there are lies , damn lies and statistics !.

For that, is the importance of explain a real image of forestry condition in Sudan according to reliable statistics. So, to talk about the economic and social importance of forests in Sudan, Sudanow met with Professor Dr. Abdul Azim Mirghani, ex- Director General of the National Forestry Corporation, and was former Secretary General of the National Council for Combating Desertification in Ministry of Environment, who spoke, "Forests and wooded areas in Sudan cover an area of approximately 85.9 million hectares and comprise 34.5% of the country's total area, according to latest statistics in 2020, compared to 20% to 30% of forests in developing countries and 31% globally. Forests alone cover approximately 30 million hectares (15. 8% of the country's area), of which 12.3 million hectares are reserved, representing only 6%, which is about 70% less than the national target of 20%. Government ownership and use of forests is 97.7%, compared to 2.3% private ownership. The per capita share of forests is 0.4 hectares, which is less than the developing country average of 0.5 hectares and the global average of 0.64 hectares. The annual loss of forests is approximately 174,400 hectares (2015)."

In between sixties and nineties agricultural areas cut out 1.7 to 14.4 million Fadden from forests , while crops production reduced from 2.1 million tun to 1.9 million tun because of removing forests and soil degradation. about 3.6 of forests effects annually by forest fires , while what actually burns is about 0.7%. Tens of hundreds of burning brick kilns , hundreds thousands of tradition cooking tools and coal stoves are depending on energy of forests . Given the current gas scarcity, for every 12.5 kg gas cylinder, forests provide 3 sacks of charcoal, which is sufficient to indicate the contribution of forests to national energy, Dr Abdul Azeem going continue his speech’’ besides that forests sector includes 154 kind from un- wooded plants which use in food, handcraft industries and popular medicine in addition to large numbers of wooden tools used in local industries such as agricultural equipment ( axes and pickaxes) , Sudanese kitchen tools as Mufraka and scoops, tooth picks, tradition chairs and carpets and baskets , trees of acacia that provides by forests. There are about 15 tree affords via forests to build a quatey( Sudanese tent) including activities of regular maintenance. Since sixties of last century forests were basic support to shelter tens of displaced and refuges compass. Recently in state of white Nile there are 10 camps to host more than 500.000 refuge , while Al- tendapa camp include about 10.000 of quatey ( straw tent ) as every person in the camp consume about one cubic meter of wood annually. As since 1985 forests of Eastern Sudan lost about 700.000 according to activities of removal by refuges , while efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to compensate for these losses did not exceed 10%’’. As well as globally about 30% to 40% of pastures located inside forests or adjacent to it . in Sudan areas of natural pastures are about 68.6 million Hictar ( 35.6% of total country’s area), while forests are main factor to seasonal pastures for cows. Internationally forests are living places to about 80%of mammals and 70% of birds and in Sudan there are more than 150 kinds of mammals ,birds and reptiles. Internationally, forests include 75% of pure sweet water and in Sudan forests participate in protecting soli , to organize rivers flooding, to reduce evaporation from 10% to 30% to save Soil moisture and groundwater.

Dr Abdul -azeem went on saying’’ about 1.2 miliary dollar is the annual average of forest’s participation in the national income, about 692 million $ for non- wood products, 379 million $ for firewood, about 83 million $ for wood and building materials in addition the sector provide about 15% of work opportunities in rural areas and continue’’ also of that ministry of finance estimated contribution of forests in the National Income of about 3.3% only due to ignore informal goods and environmental benefits. So financing forests in Developed states is 41% foreign support , 33% is public treasury , 26% , 26% of the total is from internal resources, while the public treasury's contribution to the national development plan for Sudan's forests does not exceed 1% . In Sudan activities of private sector limits only on forests’ products trade but only one project could continued successfully but stopped working spite issuing 16 decision of continuing.

On conclusion , Dr abdul Azeem asserted’’ we couldn’t review Situation of Sudan’s forests away from the internation directions . UN has adopted a strategic plan for forests (2017-2030) of 6 goals, With six goals, the most prominent of which is to With six goals, the most prominent of which is to increase global forest cover by 3%, equivalent to 120 million hectares, by 2030.increase global forest cover by 3%, equivalent to 120 million hectares, by 2030. Fore that , Sudan not only have to stop forests degradation and restore of what has been lost, but also to coup with international efforts and to contribute in accordance his abilities and forest sources,’’ and asserted ’’ it is time to adopt an ambitious national vision and integrated strategy for forest management which could restore its position in food security , environmental stability , sustainable development and to ensure its continuous for future generations.

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