Key approaches towards sustainability of range management interventions White Nile State Baja

Abstract

The study was conducted in western of Eldueim in White Nile State and is located between the river bank and the eastern part of Baja area, forming a transitional zone for the large numbers of livestock that stay in it for many days on their way to or back from the river or canals of the irrigated schemes looking for water resulting overuse and deterioration of the site. The study aimed to investigate the key approaches towards sustainability of the different range management interventions including active age groups, level of education, awareness, patterns of resource use, services provided, participation in different range management activities, source of income and partnership in addition to the use of direct observations describe the physical conditions of the area. The investigation covered the villagers and nomads as main stackholders, community leaders and it extended to cover related governmental departments and NGOs working in the area. Four villages were selected including (Taiba, Khor Elmotrag, Goz Elahmar, and Ellaota) the sample institute 80 families. According to the study results, more than 70%, of the settled are literate but on contrary more nomads are illiterate (86%), this make the education a serious subject that need to be dealt with, since sustainability depend on raising awareness of communities and education is the main tools of awareness raising. The low percentage of those who participated in local organizations, may express the need of awareness raising towards this aspect and creation of means of motivation. The importance of this point relies on the fact that local organizations are among the main tools that enhance capacity building and community empowerment. The conflicts between nomads and farmers are limited compared with the conflicts in southern part of the state. This situation is considered as an opportunity to enhance sustainability of range related development interventions. The study showed that no extension services were provided in the area, which raise the need to improve the tools and means of the extension service. This may be accompanied with capacity building for range department in term of technical capabilities and staff training with a creation of efficient partnership in this respect. High percentage of nomads (more than 36%) have no source of information for awareness raising, while radio, market and friends proved to be the most significant source of information. These findings may help to direct extension efforts towards developing programs that target these tools and means of communication. Participation in range interventions varies among the different groups (settled or nomads) based on the interest of each group on the concerned activity. Less interest in activities such as reseeding and sand dune fixation, the results showed that some times although the intervention could be important for certain groups, but they show less interest on it which may raise the need for awareness raises and mobilization. The two groups participated differently in range activities based on how the interventions affect their live and practices, these results are quite important to be understood for community mobilization, because that help to identify how to motivate communities. In general villagers are more willing to participate in sand dune fixation and fencing, while nomads in fire lines establishment.