A contribution to the economic geography of present-day forestry and forest products in the Sudan

Abstract

The natural vegetation Of the Sudan, ranging from desert scrub to tropical rain forests in the extreme southwest, is related to the occurrence of clayey and sandy soils and to rainfall which increases from almost zero southwards to over 1,200mm. The southern third of the Sudan is the site of natural forests, while the main consuming centres lie in the populous north. To attain a self-sufficiency level in timber by 1985 plantations should be established at the rate of about 21,000 feddans annually. For gum Arabic, the country's second export, the operating marketing system should be reviewed to ensure more returns to the tappers. Wholesale deforestation has rendered many formerly inhabited areas in the north a part of the desert; stray fires, grazing and agricultural practices undertaken in the forest have diminished the already limited forest wealth of the country and rendered erosion, sandstorms and desert encroachment serious problems. The adaptation of cultivation to forestry, the completion of fire-lining before early burnings take place and the provision of adequate water centres are urgently required by the situation. Forestry has a more favourable impact on the terrain and climate than other types of land use. For forest plantations established on good quality land, the per unit area financial returns can compete very favourably with those for irrigated cotton, and are higher than those for "dura", wheat, ground nuts and grazing. If the over all forest influences could be evaluated in monetary terms, forestry would be shown to be a very profitable land use. Some forest legislation needs to be reviewed; all the reserves should be under the control of a central authority with provincial agencies. For the protection of forestry, the official responsibility must be augmented by the creation of a sense of conservation among the public.