Impacts of Oil Exploration Activities on Pastoralism in West Kordofan State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was conducted at Balila area, West Kordofan State, Sudan in (2017 and 2018). The main objective of the study is to investigate the impacts of oil exploration activities on pastoralism in West Kordofan State, Sudan. Three sites within Balila area from Al-Salam were selected; Balila, Elshaq and El-Firdus for the study. The methodology used in the study included botanical measurements for the assessment of rangeland plants, Chemical analysis of ground and surface water and soil in the area. The study included a questionnaire of the population using simple random sampling. Three focus groups were conducted at each of the three sites. This information was used to identify the impacts of oil exploration and production on rangeland plants attributes of the area. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using Excel and SPSS software program. The study showed that the current condition of the rangeland plants attributes of the area is largely affected by the current activities of oil exploration and production. The rangeland plants attributes at Balila area indicated that, plant species percentages were 53.3% in season 2017 and reduced to 25.8% in season 2018. Fourteen species appeared in the rainy seasons of the two seasons 2017 and 2018 respectively (10 annuals and 4 perennials). The herbage biomass production showed 2.045 Ton/ha in 2017.Then it reduced to show 0.7034 Ton/ha in 2018. Water and soil chemical analysis was performed in Sudan Petroleum Corporation (SPCL) laboratories. The soil contains a high amount of (Fe) and Lead (Pb) appeared in the northern part of the area in large quantities. Results revealed that majority of the interviewed inhabitants confirmed adverse effects of oil exploration and production activities on the environment V and consequently on their livelihoods. Perception of respondents towards these negative impacts confirmed: deforestation (89.9%); contamination of both surface and groundwater (61.9%) and increase in morbidity (99.3%) and mortality (87.8%) among livestock. The study concluded that, the oil exploration and production is bound to bring about the suppression of certain plant species in favor of others. Oil has greatly affected the movement pattern of livestock; exposure of pregnant women to high levels of Lead can lead to miscarriage, premature labor and low birth weight.