Integrated Approach for Assessment and Monitoring of Forests Conditions in the Drylands of Sudan

摘要

Forest resources in the drylands of Sudan are fluctuating in their tree cover and eco-functions. Reliable and timely information on their status is pivotal to address their socioeconomic and environmental benefits in the national environmental policy. Thus, this study aimed to develop an assessment and monitoring systems for their trees' cover, threats, and disturbances along with forests dependents' needs and activities in Wad Al-Bashir forest area with a view of establishing database for robust forests management plans and strategies. The study combines Ground-Based Survey (GBS), socioeconomic survey (structured questionnaire and key Informant interviews) and geo-special technique (satellite images for 1988, 2008 and 2018) as integrated methods for assessing and mapping the past and current forest conditions and disturbances. GBS results found and georeferenced sites of biotic and abiotic forest disturbances as well as man's detrimental activities like trees logging which have had affected trees' health and contributed to its degradation. The biotic threats were: invasive species (Acacia nubica), pest (Sinoxylon senegalensis) and climbers, while the effect of abiotic was mild like the wind effects. Social survey findings on the other hand, signposted the direct and indirect causes of deforestation and forest degradation. Direct causes were the conversion of forestland onto farmlands, illegal cutting and uncontrolled-grazing consecutively. Indirect causes were improper forest policy implementation, population growth, poverty and land tenure system. The geospatial technique showed considerable land use/land cover changes, where 2008 had considerable forest cover (72.2%) compared with 1988 (63.8%) and 2018 (58%), and accordingly, 2018, encompasses vast farmland area than 1988 and 2008 accounting for 38, 25.9, and 6.1% respectively. The study concluded that the effectiveness of using GBS, socioeconomic survey and geospatial technique as incorporated methods that could give a representation of all forests' related aspects in one scene as well as better understanding for the genuine status.