PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF FARMERS ASSOCIATIONS IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE GUM ARABIC BELT

摘要

Sudan exhibits a series of variations in soils, climatic conditions and hence ecological zones ranging from hot dry desert in the north to the moist tropical climate in the South. Acacia Senegal L (Willd.) is the most important tree species in Sudan with a wide range of uses, it produces gum arabic, stabilises soils, is used as fodder, fertilises soils by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and is used as fire wood. Gum arabic is the natural gummy exudate obtained by tapping the branches of A. Senegal..trees and its closely related species. A. Senegal occurs in the savanna belt of Africa and extends over a wide range of ecological zones that differ in altitude, rainfall and soil type. In Sudan the gum belt extends from east to west between 10° N- 14° N. But recently from my own observations the belt is moving southwards covering vast areas in the Upper Nile and South Kordofan States.