Land Use and Misuse Land Use and Misuse Problems in SudanProblems in Sudan

ByBy

Mohamed Elamin Mohamed Elamin AbdelrahmanAbdelrahman

Nov. 2006Nov. 2006

11--SudanSudan Area: 2,506.000 km Area: 2,506.000 km22 . .

Extends over five agro-climatic zones .Extends over five agro-climatic zones .Highly diversified in all aspects. Highly diversified in all aspects. 65.4% of the population depend on 65.4% of the population depend on natural resources to sustain their natural resources to sustain their

livelihoodslivelihoods . .

11 - -Natural Resources –stock takingNatural Resources –stock taking1.1-Geography: North east Africa.1.1-Geography: North east Africa.Based on climate and topography Based on climate and topography the country is divided into several the country is divided into several

geographical regions. geographical regions. 1.2- Climate: 1.2- Climate: Rainfall -<25mm->1400mm/annum.Rainfall -<25mm->1400mm/annum. Temp: >40 Temp: >40ooc in summer c in summer

10-20 10-20ooc in winterc in winter . .

1.31.3 - -Geology: Geology: -Basement complex is the most -Basement complex is the most

extensive formation (non-bearing).extensive formation (non-bearing).-Nubian sand stone, Umruwaba -Nubian sand stone, Umruwaba series and Elatshan are the most series and Elatshan are the most

important water bearing formations.important water bearing formations.1.4-Soils: 1.4-Soils: -UNESCO-FAO (1971) identified -UNESCO-FAO (1971) identified nearly 100 soil categories. Out of nearly 100 soil categories. Out of

themthem : :

--Xerosols: Extensively used for Xerosols: Extensively used for grazing and cropping. grazing and cropping.

-Arenosols: Found in western Sudan. -Arenosols: Found in western Sudan. Extensively used for cultivation. Extensively used for cultivation.

-Vertisols: The widest spread soil in -Vertisols: The widest spread soil in Sudan. Sudan. -Fluvisols: Found throughout the -Fluvisols: Found throughout the

Nile Valley and the major WadisNile Valley and the major Wadis . .

1.51.5 Vegetation: Divided into5 main Vegetation: Divided into5 main zones. Desert, Semi -desert, Low zones. Desert, Semi -desert, Low rainfall wood land savanna, High rainfall wood land savanna, High rainfall wood land savanna, Flood rainfall wood land savanna, Flood and Montane Zones. and Montane Zones.

1.6 wildlife. 1.6 wildlife. 1.7 Forestry. 1.7 Forestry. 1.8 Water Resources: 1.8 Water Resources: -Surface Water (rivers, wadis and -Surface Water (rivers, wadis and swamps). swamps).

- Ground water- Ground water . .

22 . .Land use Land use 2.1 Agriculture: 2.1 Agriculture: -Nearly half of the country area is -Nearly half of the country area is suitable for agriculture. suitable for agriculture. -Only 8-10% is currently used. -Only 8-10% is currently used. -Forms of Agric. : Traditional rain -Forms of Agric. : Traditional rain fed, Rain fed Mechanized farming, fed, Rain fed Mechanized farming,

Irrigated agric. And associated Irrigated agric. And associated activities as gum production activities as gum production . .

2.22.2 Range and livestock:Range and livestock:Much of Sudan surface area is more Much of Sudan surface area is more suitable for livestock grazing than suitable for livestock grazing than cultivation. cultivation. 3- Land Tenure 3- Land Tenure - Land is central issue. Means for - Land is central issue. Means for

basic survival. Individual and tribal basic survival. Individual and tribal bride. Sources of potential bride. Sources of potential

exploitation and conflictexploitation and conflict . .

3.13.1 - -Land Tenure Systems:Land Tenure Systems:+Traditional: The concept of the +Traditional: The concept of the customary tribal homeland is the customary tribal homeland is the most important constituent. most important constituent. +Modern: Under which land is +Modern: Under which land is

registered as private or state registered as private or state property. Most tribal lands were property. Most tribal lands were

registered as state property resulting registered as state property resulting in so many conflictsin so many conflicts . .

3.23.2 Land tenure, rural poverty and Land tenure, rural poverty and conflicts:+Laws and land decrees conflicts:+Laws and land decrees

have undermined the legal rights of have undermined the legal rights of the rural communities. the rural communities. +Land is subjected to privatization +Land is subjected to privatization and commercial speculation that and commercial speculation that resulted in (modified land tenure resulted in (modified land tenure

systems, alienation of agro-systems, alienation of agro-pastoralists from their traditional pastoralists from their traditional

homelands, competition and homelands, competition and conflicts over land …etc.)conflicts over land …etc.)

44 - -Misuse problemsMisuse problems+Land related problems (Decline soil +Land related problems (Decline soil

fertility, salinity, erosion, land fertility, salinity, erosion, land degradation … etc). degradation … etc). +Water related problems ( water +Water related problems ( water

shortage, quality, periodic hazards shortage, quality, periodic hazards of floods and droughts). of floods and droughts). +people related problems (changing +people related problems (changing

land tenure, land fragmentation, land tenure, land fragmentation, overgrazing, deforestation, conflicts)overgrazing, deforestation, conflicts)

55 - -Management systemsManagement systems+Government: The concept of +Government: The concept of

natural resources management has natural resources management has evolved series of surveys and evolved series of surveys and

assessments. By 1946 Soil assessments. By 1946 Soil Conservation and Land use Conservation and Land use

Department has established to study Department has established to study phenomena like desertification, land phenomena like desertification, land

degradationdegradation… ,… ,

++NGO’S: ( foreign and national in NGO’S: ( foreign and national in addition to CBO’S are deeply addition to CBO’S are deeply involved in natural resources involved in natural resources management as part of their management as part of their

development pursuits. development pursuits. +Communities: +Communities:

- Realizing the importance of N.R - Realizing the importance of N.R conservation. conservation. -Jointly with government and -Jointly with government and

NGO’S implementing development NGO’S implementing development programmesprogrammes . .

++In rural areas they own land and In rural areas they own land and allocated according to individual allocated according to individual needs. needs. +Have their customary law and +Have their customary law and

traditional conservation mechanismstraditional conservation mechanisms

66--Conclusion Conclusion The increase in population, The increase in population,

environment changes, globalization environment changes, globalization of economies, high demand and of economies, high demand and

competition for land resources, all competition for land resources, all these call for a whole new approach these call for a whole new approach to land tenure and natural resource to land tenure and natural resource governance. For this reason we are governance. For this reason we are trying to adopt land reform policies trying to adopt land reform policies

and laws throughand laws through : :

--Democratization of land Democratization of land administration systems. administration systems.

-Community participation in -Community participation in designing new land rights systems. designing new land rights systems.

-Comprehensive and integrated -Comprehensive and integrated resources management that suit the resources management that suit the

complex realities of Sudan complex realities of Sudan environments. environments.

-Examination of the shortfalls of -Examination of the shortfalls of customary land tenurecustomary land tenure . .