Khartoum, (sudanow.info.sd) -Scientists commonly use the term "environment" to describe the “natural environment” which means the sum of all living and non-living things that surround an organism, or group of organisms. Environment includes all elements, factors, and conditions that have some impact on growth and development of certain organism. Environment includes both biotic and abiotic factors that have influence on observed organism. Abiotic factors such as light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases combine with biotic factors (all surrounding living species).

Additionally, the ecological system means any natural area and what it contains of living creatures and materials in their interaction with one another, the environmental circumstances and what that begets of exchange between the living and non-living parts. Examples of the ecological systems include forests, rivers, lakes and seas.

The above definition obviously takes into consideration all living creatures of which the environmental community is formed together all non-living components (soil structure, winds, day length, humidity, pollution etc…).

Man, as one of the components of the ecological system, assumes a very special place due to his intellectual and psychological development. This is because man, to a tangible degree, is the controller over the eco-system and upon his good conduct stands the preservation of the eco-system against exhaustion.



Man represents the most important organic factor in causing the environmental change and the natural biological imbalance. Since his creation, man deals with the environment components and as years pass on, man’s control over environment increases, particularly after the scientific and technological advancement has availed him further opportunities to case changes in the environment according to his needs to food and clothing.

Consequently, man cut the forests’ woods and turned their lands into farms, factories and homes. Additionally, man has over consumed the pasture through overgrazing and resorted to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in their different types. All these factors are active contributor to causing ecological imbalance, matter which will gradually reflect on the life of the human beings, particularly if we take into consideration that forests represent an ecological system that is closely associated with man.

Forests constitute around %28 of the continents and therefore their deterioration or removal cause serious reflections on the ecological system, in particular the required balance between the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air.

  Bad use of pastures leads to deterioration of natural vegetation which in turn leads to soil and climate deterioration. If this deterioration continued, the soil would be barren and consequently become exposed to erosion.

Because of the imbalanced agricultural systems and agriculture, man has turned the natural forests into agricultural lands and thus replaced the natural environmental systems with artificial devices; and the food chains and the exchanged relations between the living creatures and materials together with the environmental systems’ features with another pattern of relations between the cultivated crop and its surrounding environment. As a result, man used fertilizers and pesticides to achieve this goal.



The biggest mistake made by man in his understanding of investing the land agriculturally was his belief that he could replace the standing complicated natural relations with artificial factors thus violating the laws which organize the nature, matter which caused the agricultural systems to rapidly exhaust and got damaged.

There are environmental problems all over the world including in the industrial countries due to the air pollution resulting from the industrial process and in the developing countries due to water pollution and scarcity, food pollution and desertification which has become increasing during the past years.

Everybody is aware of the desertification and land degradation issues in Africa together with the bad conditions of the communities resulting of those phenomena.  In this respect, many studies and researches indicated that the deterioration in forests amounts to around one million hectares a year on the African coast.

There is also the global warming which further complicates the environmental problems in the African continent.

Accordingly, in 2005, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo proposed the “Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative” (GGWSSI) mainly because of the environmental deterioration in the African continent which is hit by conflicts, poverty, instability and immigration.

The initiative was approved by the African Union in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, in 2007

to become one of the most important priorities of the AU and a major strategy to stop desertification in Africa. Sudan signed this agreement in Chad in 2010.

 

The belt extends for around 7.26 thousand kilometers from Dakar until Djibouti and includes around 11 African countries represented in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Sudan is one of the biggest countries through which the belt passes as it extends for about 1520 kilometers, which constitutes a great benefit for Sudan with regard to environment and stability.

Sudan government has established a communication point for this project and formed a national committee for this purpose that was approved in 2011.

Presently efforts are ongoing to fund cultivation of that belt where European markets and international organizations are currently studying the project to fund it.

In this respect, the World Bank has approved a fund for the GGWSSI where Sudan’s share from the fund amounts to 8350000 U.S Dollars.

The concerned authorities are currently embarked on studying the project prior to implement it in 2012.

The GGWSSI is of great importance for Sudan as it provide protection for gum arabic and avails rehabilitation of natural forests which are rapidly decreasing in addition to curbing up the desertification which has become the biggest environmental problem in the country due to the migration from the rural areas to the urban areas, matter which greatly affects on the country’s stability.

The 2nd GGWSSI Extraordinary Ministerial Conference is scheduled to be held at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum during current November 21-22 with the participation of all member states.

The importance of the conference lies in the fact that it is the first initiative to fight desertification in Africa and because the biggest sector of the project is in Sudan extending from Khartoum and way down to North Kordufan, North Darfur, Gezira, Gedarif and Kasala States, the areas threatened to be hit by desertification.

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Interview:

Desertification constitutes the biggest environmental problem in Sudan due to the migration from the rural areas to the big towns, matter which greatly reflects on stability of the country.

Resolving the desertification issue will contribute to increasing the natural pastures and prevention of migration from the rural to urban areas and towns. It will also contribute to boosting stability in the rural areas.

The 2nd Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the “Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative” (GGWSSI) was held at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum during November 21-22 with the participation of ten environment ministers from the member states.

The importance of the conference was represented in the fact that it was the first initiative to fight desertification in Africa and because the biggest sector of the project was in Sudan extending from Khartoum and way down to North Kordofan, North Darfur, Gezira, Gedarif and Kasala States, the areas threatened to be hit by desertification.

To cast light on the conference and the initiative, Sudanow interviewed Dr. Abdullah Babikir, Undersecretary of the federal Ministry of Environment and Physical Development.

Hereunder Sudanow publishes excerpts of the interview: -

Question: The 2nd GGWSSI Extraordinary Ministerial Conference is scheduled to convene in Khartoum on Monday with the participation of ten environment ministers from the member states. What is the agenda of the conference and the issues to be reviewed by the conferees?

Answer: The major agenda of the conference was to discuss the budget of the organization and the administrative and executive posts and approve the agenda of the first conference which was held in Bamako, capital of Mali in April 2011.

The belt geographically extends for around 7.26 thousand kilometers from Dakar until Djibouti and includes around 11 African countries represented in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Therefore, the strategy is associated with the national level in each concerned country during the coming five years. The plan for 2012 tends to reflect the basic components of the five-year strategy in forms of annual plans to reactivate the role of the organization in the establishment of this great green wall. So the strategy in the end tends to establish tree belts and perform human activities within each member country to curb up desertification advancement southwards.

The main reason behind combining the establishment of the tree belts with human activities is that belts alone without human activities would not stop desert encroachment. Therefore, the conference was for discussing and agreeing on certain human activities within each country so that the strategy would yield in the end.

Of course the project is huge and cannot be completed within one year, but definitely brings great results in the end. Most importantly is that the belt in many countries passes through areas rich of underground and rainy waters, the reason why the project includes activities to exploit these water resources and rehabilitate the infrastructures at the villages and rural areas.

Usually, and whenever there is scarcity in water, people move southwards, matter which contribute to desertification, but such activities will help the people settle and contribute to curbing up desert encroachment, namely by moving north.

We also regard the belt as a means for leveraging the united African action because the project targets the whole Africa. Therefore, efforts must be brought together and technical and financial support must be provided to establish this great green wall.



Question: The initiative was approved by the African Union in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2007 to become one of the most important priorities of the AU and a major strategy to stop desertification in Africa. How do you work to translate it on the ground in the concerned countries in the best possible means?

Answer: The strategy stands on base of country efforts which means that the organization will support each member state to find the technical cadres and financial resources to support the relevant activities. This means the organization will assist the countries to provide the scientific cadres they lack.

We, in Sudan for instance, may lack some experiences in some fields, so the organization may provide Sudan with experts with long-standing experience in this field to help us establish this belt with scientific standards and in a sustainable manner. The experts can supervise the activities and work in complete coordination with the national cadres in each country, namely at the communication point concerned with following up the project in the respective country.

In Sudan we have already established a communication point and provided it with the technical cadres that enable it to perform its task. We have also formed the national committee for following up the project because the issue is not concerned with environment only but it is also a social issue relating to the people’s behaviors and their exploitation of their natural resources.

Regarding the issue of providing the financial support for instance there is should be experts from the concerned ministries such as the foreign ministry to attend for the external communications, the finance ministry to provide the fund, the agriculture ministry to provide the tree, the ministry of social welfare and social security to provide their contribution through the Chamber of Zakat (alms) and the social support funds.

Furthermore, the organization’s strategy stands on the historical facts and our experience with drought and desertification dates back to the 1970s of last century.   We have experts with over 30 years of experience in this field therefore they can make use of our experience and we make of theirs. I can safely say that all arrangements have completed to launch the project at the national level.”

Question: Displacement- and population movement- is one of the environment problems in Sudan fur to lack of production and increasing desertification. Does the project has accompanying programs and projects to help stop population movement and displacement, provide means of production for the affected population and reduce desertification in Sudan and the Horn of Africa area?

Answer: Yes, and as I said, Sudan’s national working plan includes many projects tending to achieve stability for the citizens and increase the production via using local techniques known for their positive effect on stopping desertification such as water harvest projects. It is true that the State is adopting the water harvest projects at these areas but in a weak manner as the focus is placed on the surface water such as the small dams, Hafeers (water trenches) and wells. However, we believe that we have a very big reserve of underground water which should be observed in the projects which tend to achieve stability for the citizens and increase their production at the target areas.

We also have income generating projects such as husbandry of drought-resisting animals. We also work to provide water resources and fodder to help the citizens at those areas to settle down.

In Sudan we have already started development of such projects beginning with the water harvest project which was launched in Darfur and Kordofan States to exploit the underground water there to generate great amount of water. Such project can actually change the reality.

This is evident in Khartoum State, where the western Omdurman area was historically known to be a desert area with only few herdsmen and some scattered tree, but presently it is inhabited because the people with their determination and experience have managed to turn it into an inhabitable area after the provision of water and establishment of forest belts with great number of animal resources. There is also the project of forest belts in Gadarif State. Such experiences can be generalized in other states if the necessary funds have been provided.

There was a Sudanese law issued stipulating allocation of %10 of each rain-fed agricultural area for tree belts to preserve the vegetation cover particularly the experience of the mechanized agriculture has contributed to destruction of forests as people cut the tree to provide areas for cultivation or to use as fire-sticks. If the law is implemented properly, we believe it would contribute to tackling the environment issues. Furthermore, the acacia trees can have double benefits as they can serve as tree belt and at the same time a means of production as they produce gum Arabic.

I would like to reiterate that we are committed to implementing the law as an effective means for combating desertification and provide means of production. Additionally, we will also encourage the local citizens to raise animals and select projects that can really contribute to their stability and secure them tangible financial returns to boost their living conditions.”

Question: environment investment supports peace and stability, but random investment understanding leads to failure of project. Have you considered preparing studies and investment plans that attract Sudanese and foreign investors alike?

Answer: When we advocated for the models of environment projects in Khartoum State we were in fact advocating for the real environment investment in Sudan. Cultivation of a fruitful and productive forest on an area which was out of calculations was not among the major agenda of the initiative. However, we in Sudan are introducing new technologies to help our brothers the investors to attract capitals to contribute in this work. Of course, like I said, funding the rehabilitation of the vegetal cover of this belt from North Darfur until Kasala is estimated at billions of Dollars therefore the private sector and investors have to be involved with the focus on the local investors who are aware of the nature and potentialities of the area to lead this work and become examples for the other citizens.

The investment projects targets the people of weak economic and social status in the first place with the aim to help them exploit their resources properly. We in fact use the investment as a means to develop the local communities and provide natural resources for the citizens.

Since the 1970s we had a national program for combating desertification. It was in form of scientific studies for the means which could contribute to treating the phenomenon of drought and desertification. In 2006, the program was approved and implemented in many states. The program has been active in North Kordofan State for ten years and similarly in Nahral-Nil State. We currently have national and state plans and programs to implement the GGWSSI strategy. Therefore, we are only waiting to be provided with the technical and financial support.

Regarding the investment part in our plan, we have our Jordanian investors in Nahral-Nil State. They have a great program for production of fodder. There are also our brothers from DAL Company who have great investment for fodder production at Sharqal-Nil locality. They are currently exporting their products after securing the domestic demand. So, the projects and programs are there and there only remain the need for funds. We will begin with model projects in some states to be the base for future projects as all the available funds represent local component.

At the launch of the GGWSSI, the World Bank has approved a fund of around 100 million dollarswhere Sudan’s share from the fund amounts to 8350000 dollars. The share is available and there remain the issue of agreements with the local population prior to start the program on clear and studies bases.”

Question: the World Bank has approved a fund for the project of which Sudan’s share is 8, 350, 00 Dollars. Do you think this sum is enough for funding the project, and is there any contribution on the part of the State?

Answer: As I said the sum is very small compared to the size of challenges. It is only enough to enable us implement model projects. We have been suffering from environment issues for over 30 years without finding solutions, but when we show them the model projects and prove to them that such projects are fundable and executable without high costs, then we could institute for bases to attract funds from the friendly countries within the law of the organization in this respect. Sudan has been suffering political, economic and diplomatic siege for a long time, matter which prevented it from receiving funds from the international mechanisms concerned with combating desertification. There are countries like Niger, for instance, which receive big sums of millions of Dollars at the time when we are denied this privilege because of the siege. However, this organization can be a means for us to be among the countries to receive funds because we are now part of this organization and a signatory to its treaty. Therefore, the organization will play a great role to make sure we receive funds just like the other member states when there is a fund from any party for the initiative. Additionally, the organization can be a mechanism to attract fund from the donor states where it could be difficult to attract fund for Sudan diplomatic wise but when the fund comes to the organization, then there will no problem as Sudan is part of it and it can decide to fund it. We are represented at the different bodies of the organization whether at the level of the presidents or the ministers and therefore we can exchange our experiences with the other members and advocate for our projects to get funds.

We believe that this conference is a great opportunity to reflect Sudan’s role. We have many frozen projects and initiative because some donors believe that Sudan is out of the funding circle, but now we are part of this organization and we must be included in the resources provided for it.

There is also the European Union initiative to support the organization. The EU initiative include has three or four regional organizations and other technical ones with experts and will provide their resources for the organization. We will work to make use of such a program.

As I said we already have the local component represented in the water harvest project upon which we will build as a contribution by the State. For instance the programs of developing the arid areas in North Kordofan were mainly funded by the federal ministry of finance so we can just include our work in this program to carry on with the implementation of our part in the GGWSSI. Here we tell the donors that we already have relevant standing programs and that they only need to provide us with further funds to carry on.

Question: what is your message to the Sudanese and African communities?

Answer: I say to them that the GGWSSI is an African grouping representing a regional and African action. The African Union has been cuffed for years and unable to implement anything at the level of its member states. We believe this organization is one of the windows that the AU can use and support to become an initiative for the united African action so that we can first address our issues by ourselves before seeking the support of the international community. The drought and desertification phenomenon is a hundred percent African. We used to go to the donors all the time, but now we want the AU to adopt this organization which it established to become an example of bilateral and regional cooperation.

In this respect there is a base represented in the cooperation experience between Sudan and Chad in developing their joint border areas together with the experience of Sudan and Ethiopia and Sudan and Eritrea. These experiences have greatly contributed to the stability at the border areas and transformed them into points of mutual benefits, communication and cooperation between the peoples of those countries. We want the borders to be points of benefits exchange and not centers of conflicts and security disorder.

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