Assessment of El-Rawashda Reserved Forest Resources Using Selected Climate Change Indicators - Gedaref State - Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out in El-Rawashda Natural Reserved Forest. It is located in the Eastern part of Sudan at latitude 14.2˚ N and longitude 35.6˚ E. The aim of this study is to assess and monitor forest cover change at El-Rawashda Natural Reserved Forest using Remote Sensing Imagery and selected indicators related to climate change (rainfall, temperature, soil quality, aridity index, and floral and faunal species). Remotely sensed data for the years 1988, 1998, 2007 and 2018, were used to achieve this objective, In addition, a stratified random sample with 5% sample size from the target group (100) questionnaires were designed and distributed among the respondents of El-Rawashda, Darelzain and Wadelnair villages. Moreover, ten soil samples for surface layer (0 – 30 cm) were taken by augur and using directed random sampling. The remote sensing data were possessed and analyzed by using Arc map and Envi software’s, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS)were used to analyzed data obtained by questionnaires, and Soil samples were analyzed using laboratory equipment, followed by Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) to find the relationship between different sites. The results revealed that there were remarkable changes from the satellite remotely sensed images showed in El-Rawashda Natural Reserved Forest cover. Local community also confirmed that a huge change occurred between 1988 and 2018 and this change was attributed to climatic variability and human induced activates. In addition, El-Rawashda Natural Reserved Forest played a considerable role by providing a wide range of benefits, contributing significantly to people’s livelihoods and environmental services. For that reason the basic needs of the local community around the forest should be taken into consideration by FNC, beside activating protection and increasing the number and facilities for guards and monitoring forests using modern techniques.