Environmental forestry under the title Communities Involvement in the Sustainable Natural Resources Management in Semi arid Areas in Sudan

Abstract

Communities Involvement in the Sustainable Natural Resources Management in Semi-arid Areas in Sudan (El-Rawakeeb Areas - Khartoum state) This study was conduted in El-Rawakeeb area west Omdurman, where natural resources (forests and range) were degraded. The objective of the study for is to invistigate communities involvement, awareness and use pattern for sustainable natural resource management The data collection based on direct observations and use of questionnaire of the sample constitutes 30 families forming 17 % of the total 180 families in the study area. The results showed that 33.33 % of the respondents are illiterate; this percentage is relatively high in an area where there is a need for awareness raising. The high percentage 86.7 % of those confirmed domination Sheikh tribal system is a good mean for social control for the involvement of local communities. High percentages of the households raise goats 40 % and 30 % sheep, and goats are suitable to the environment of the area. The results showed that, the number of livestock was higher within the past 100 % compared with now, 83.33 % of the respondents are settled compared with 16.67 % migrate as a result of the destocking, which happened in the last years., mostly during the day depending 80 % on tree browsing. The study revealed that 90 % of the tree cover is Acacia tortilis (Seyal) the most suitable and adapted tree, with other scattered trees such as Acacia mellifera (Kitter) and Boscia senegalensis (mokhat). Concerning the community involvement 66. 67 % are willing to participate in natural resource activities, and almost all the participants are aware about the desertification, this resulted from the work of the project of El-Rawakeeb and considered positive in sustainability context. Agricultural practiced in the study area, traditional 100 % during the rainy season for growing sorghum , 56.67 % , millet 43.33 % but the production do not cover the need of the area as informed by all the respondents which may need to be addressed. The source of income depends mainly on migrating to work in urban areas 50 %, animal sale 36.67 % and marketing activities 13.33 %. The growing need for fuel wood 66.67 % is not online with the life style that more people are using gas, and this is very important subject that will need to be addressed in the semi- arid areas through availing energy alternative means. In general sustainability of natural resources in semi-arid area should handle the communities involvement, awareness raising in addition to dealing with resources themselves.