REMOTE SENSING APPLICATION FOR ASSESSING DRYLANDS CONDITIONS IN EN NAHUD AREA,CENTRAL SUDAN

摘要

Dry lands condition in En Nahnd area (Western Kordolhn State- Sudan) were assessedrnand ewlluated utilizing Landsat (TM) images for lhe years 1987 and 1997, supported by groundrntnlth, parameters such as vegetation, landuse types, settlements and drainage patterns. ILWIS 2.2rnsofware was used in the production of nmps for both years. The study revealed that both thernnatural and hum,'m environments have tmdergone significant changes. The devastating inlpaclsrnof tile drought of the seventies and eighties have been mamfested in the reduction of plant coverrnand the appearance of barelands in the northern section of tile area. Signs of recovery werernlinked to the rai~ffall to normal levels. The cultivated areas have advanced bv the late nineties atrnthe expense of rangelands as an indirect indicator of man made land degradation. Degradationrnwas also limked with low crop productivity and tile shortening of fallow periods and aggravatedrnby tree cutting and overgrazing. No changes in the principal zonations of the natural vegetationrnwere observed. Utilization of remote sensing a supporled by fieldwork afforded suitablernmeans of assessment and delineation of different vegetation zones, settlemenls, drainage systemsrn,'rod l,'mduse types. For sustainable utilization of resources the study recommends that the arearnnorth of latitude 13°: 00' N should be left for ,'mimal husbandry. The indigenous attitudes andrnperception of the local people towards the environment umst be considered in all policies andrnph'ms to conserve and develop the area.