THE IMPACT OF REFUGEES ON FOREST TREE COVER AT UM RAKUBA UM GARGUR AND EL TINEDBA CAMPS GEDAREF STATE EASTERN SUDAN

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF REFUGEES ON FOREST- TREE COVER At GEDAREF STATE Gedaref State is an important area for Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees, because of proximity and availability of security and natural resources. The influx of refugees was high during the previous forty years. The number of refugees at Gedaref State reached approximately 360000 persons. The study area was consisted of three camps: Um Rakuba in El Galabat province, Um Gargur in Seitait province and El Tinedba camp at El Rahad province. The study areas lie between latitudes 12° 30´ 16° 30´ N and longitudes 33° 35´ 36° 35´ E. The objectives of the study were to assess the impact of refugees on forest- tree cover at the settlement areas and to investigate the impact on the other natural resources, so as to formulate recommendations that will help to recover the deforested areas. The field visits were carried out in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Different methods had been applied to identify the change of forest- tree cover, in the study areas mainly: - -Questionnaires in order to define ways to illicit cutting of natural forests around and far away from the camps. There were questions about the factors that caused deforestation in large areas around the settlements. - Satellite imageries covering the whole study areas for the years from 1975 to 2000 were carefully studied. The images were introduced to computer for processing, enhancing, analysis and classification. The results assist in comparisons between the changes of forest-tree cover that have taken place over the different years in forms of percentage and area in ha. The results show that the rate of changes and the degradation of forest-tree cover are very clear after the settlements of refugees in the areas. - The point- centered quartered method (PCQ) was used to calculate the density of trees per hectare in the natural forests. At Um Rakuba site the density is 46 trees / ha, while at El Tinedba site the density is 11 trees / ha. However, at Um Gargur site the area is void of trees. - The plantations at Um Gargur and El Tinedba were also measured and the impact of refugees was assessed and the future of the plantations was predicted. The study showed that the plantations would disappear within few years unless the factors that are threatening the forest degradation are stopped. - Other techniques were used to evaluate the soil seed bank of tree species at the study sites; seeds of Acacia seyal were only found in the soil at Um Rakuba but none-at the other two sites. Soil fertility in the agricultural lands is less than in the forested areas because the rainfall and wind eroded the top soil due to the absence of any green cover in the area. This research is showing that, there is a grading deterioration in forest- tree cover. Wildlife and non-wood forest products were not observed. The negative effect of refugees will increase more than before, because there are extra numbers of refugees resettled in Um Gargur camp from other camps. The resettlement of refugees in the study areas increases the demand for building materials, crops, grazing land as well as source of energy. The high demand of forest products encouraged the refugees to put more pressure on the existing reserved forests and plantations. Urgent remedy measures followed by serious positive decision should be taken to recover the affected areas by planting trees and protecting them from cutting in order to stop deterioration and improve the degraded areas.