Urban Community Forestry- Opportunities and Constraints (Case Study:Eldom Forest- Khartoum State-Sudan)

Abstract

This study was conducted at Eldom Urban Community Forest in Khartoum State during 2017. The main objective of the study is to highlight opportunities and constraints regarding the forest, while the specific objectives are to determine: perceptions of people of forest, benefits derived from forest, potential role of the forest, and constraints faced the forest. Data was collected based on social survey through different tools including: questionnaire, checklist, group discussion, observation, records and reports, scientific papers and internet. 50 respondents were interviewed. The data analyzed using statistical package of social science (spss), in addition to frequencies and percentages. The study showed that, health services, building materials, fuel wood and recreation constituted the main benefits from the forest in the study area. Meanwhile, people had developed positive perceptions and attitudes toward the urban community forest. Moreover, recreational services, social services and environmental stability showed as an opportunities and potential role of the forest. Some constraints hindered the development of the forest including: protection, lack of irrigation, lack of seedlings and mismanagement. The study recommended increasing the allotted area for different forest activities and producing of different tree species inside the forest.