Assessment of Stakeholders Role in the Process of Sustainable Range Management in Northern Kordofan

Abstract

Assessment of Stakeholders Role in the Process of Sustainable Range Management in Northern Kordofan This study was conducted at “Abusonoon“ Mountains, nearly 40 km west of Elobied town in Sheikan locality in North Kordofan State in central Sudan. The objectives were to assess rangeland health attributes and indicators as compared with the role of the stakeholders and to investigate the role of the different stakeholders in contrast with the prevailing range management situation in the study area. The study concept based on addressing the main factors of integrated and sustainable rangeland management, including stakeholders as interactive components of integrated rangeland management and range health as an accumulative result of the different range management practices. Indicators tested in this study included vegetation composition and frequency, ground cover, biomass production, erosion hazards, seed bank and soil integrity such as organic matter. Three sites were selected to represent rangeland types in the study area included flat sand, relatively depressed and goz sites were surveyed. Five transects were taken in each site based on releύe method and minimum area theory. In each site a plot of 1Km X 1km was selected and five transects were distributed on it to determine these indicators. Stakeholder analysis was conducted based on (ODA, 1995) where the main stakeholders were identified and their assumed roles based on their mandatory work were compared with their prevailing roles, in order to identify gaps and shortcomings and to realize what is required. X The study showed that plant composition of each site: The sandy site was dominated by Fimbristyls dichotomo. The depressed site was dominated by Eragrostis tremula, while in goz site the dominant species was Dactyloctenium aegyptium. The species with high frequency were Cenchrus spp in sandy site, while Aristida spp, was high frequency in both depressed and goz sites. Percentage of plant cover was affected by the pattern of the area, where flat sandy site scored 66.3%, depressed site scored 71.4% while goz site scored 77%. Also the litter coverage scored 21.9%, 10.5 and 9% for the studied sites , flat sandy, depressed and goz repectively. No erosion hazard were indentified since bare soil less than 25 %. Productivity as indicated by biomass showed 0.824 ton/hac. for flat sandy site, compared with 1.207 ton/hac. for depressed and 1.457 ton/hac. for goz site. Carrying capacity was 109.87 AU/hac./day for sandy site while for depressed site was 160.93 AU /hac./day and 194.27 AU /hac./day for goz site. The study area showed very high diversity in three sites in seed bank and there was very high density of seed per square meter. The total seed bank for flat sandy site was 747,879 seed/m2 and depressed site showed 721,410 seed/m2 and goz site showed 691, 827 seed/m2. The species of Eragrostis tremula, Aristida spp, Schoenefoldia gracils dominated the three sites in both cases dead and live seed. Many species were dominated in seed bank found in five dominant species in composition and frequency but Cenchrus spp. appeared in dominant species of vegetation and not appeared in seed bank, also this species was of high dead seed than live in flat sandy and goz sites. Schoenefoldia gracils was found in five dominated species in seed bank and did not appear in the vegetation. The soil organic matter percentage was with low contain of plant materials, this showed 1.8 % in flat sandy site and 1.2 % in depressed and goz sites. XI The results showed that nearly 42 % of the surveyed community practice both crop farming and livestock raising. Tribal system dominates and regulates the social life and natural resources use since 67 % of them confirmed that 46 % of livestock raiser was herding to get milk as source of income. Goots dominated livestock raised, in addition to sheep as both are more coping with environment of the area compared with cattle. Community participation found due to limit involvement of the leaders in community mobilization so provided that more capacity building for the leaders to doing their tasks, the level of involvement of CBOs in the area is limited. The study showed that, Range and Pastures Administration is the authority of range management activities responsible for implementation of the range activities but it is faced with limited budgets from the State and localities. Limited co-ordination activities with Soil Conservation Department in relation to improving water catchment and distributions. Also limited or no clear co-ordination with Forests Natural Corporation to co-ordinate the work of natural stand management and fire management. And limited or lack of co-ordination with Research and University were of identifying problem or working to come out with solution The study recommended that vegetation cover is healthy in the study area so there is a need for activities of improvements and conservation. And replantation of trees in the area such as Acacia tortilis and, Maerua carssifollia. The study recommended that stakeholder co-ordination required the following to filling gap. More awareness for Community leaders towards involving their communities and motivation of their communities towards rational use, more capacity building and more skills on leadership aspects XII for Leaders, working closely for CBOs as partners and making use of funding opportunities available for NGOs as main application. Range Pasture Administration was authorities of range management and activities required to building the capacity of staff in the administration to do their job, mobilization the community, seeking funding and co-ordination with other government officials' bodies.