News Details

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FORESTS NATIONAL CORPORATION

FOREWARD Sudan Forests play a key role in the livelihoods of the people, by providing important services to support their livelihood. Most of the population (approximately 66%) is rural and is considered as forest dependant for fuelwood as the main source of energy and on round wood for building. In their productive role the forests provide products such as round poles, fuelwood, sawn timber for construction, furniture and railway sleepers. Non wood products include a wide variety of fruits, gums, nuts, tannins, fibre, fodder and bark that are used for food, medicine and raw materials in cottage industries. Forests protect the agricultural environment resulting in higher yields, thus contributhing to food security and rural development. Forests are the habitat for a wide variety of wild flora and fauna. Forests play a crucial role in environmental protection through its influences on soil, rainfall, wind and in relation to climate change; forests play an important ecological role by the provision of carbon sinks. Geographical Distribution of Sudan Forests: (i) Desert: in the northern part of the country, representing 25% of the total area, rainfall 0-75 mm. Sparse vegetation is restricted to water courses. (ii) Semi-desert: Represents about 20% of the total area, rainfall 75-300 mm. Vegetation sparse grassland and/or small thorn scrub. (iii) Low Rainfall Savannah: Represents about 30% of the total area: rainfall 300-900 mm. Vegetation is mainly Acacia species. In the drier northern portion and mixed deciduous species of Anogeissus, Combretum and Terminalia in the moister southern portion. (iv) High Rainfall Savannah: Represents about 15% of the total area; rainfall 900-1500 mm.; vegetation mainly deciduous species of Anogeissus, Khaya and Isoberlina. (v) Montane: scattered mountains mainly in the Imatong, Jebel Merra massif in the west and the Red Sea hills in the east; rainfall is 500-1000 mm. vegetation is mainly broad leafed species with two conifers; Podocarpus milanjianus and Juniperus procera. (vi) Flood Region: vegetation is mainly Papyrus swamps. Forest Types: (a) Federal Forests: Means any reserved federal forest belonging to the corporation or unreserved forest especially in marginalised lands and watersheds to meet national needs in terms of forests and products and for the protection of the environment. (b) State Forests Any reserved forest belonging to the state or the locality for the purpose of providing for the needs of the state or the locality in terms of forest products and for the protection of the environment. (c) Other forests include: • private forests established in any agricultural land owned, or leased to people who are used to cultivating it or practicing cultivation around their residential areas. • Communal forests established by citizens in their farms and around towns and villages. • Forests belonging to institutions. Brief Note on History of Sudan Forests: 1902 Establishment of the Woods and Forests Department. 1932 Declaration of Forest Policy. 1932 Enactment of the Central and Provincial Forests Laws for executing the Forest Policy. 1939 Enactment of the Forest Royalties Order. 1945 Establishment of the Forest Rangers School. 1946 Departure of the first batch for B.Sc. forestry in Edinburgh University. 1955 Appointment of the First Sudanese Director of Forests-Sayed: M.Kamil Shawki. 1963 The first Arbor Day Celebration, Elobeid, Northern Kurdufan. 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement granting Southern Sudan Regional Autonomy 1980 Regional Government Law “Decentralization of forests”. 1986 Revised Forest Policy, 1986. 1989 The Establishment of the Forests National Corporation and Enactment of its law. 1995 Forest Products Consumption Survey. 1998 National Inventory of Forest Resources. 1998 Sudan Constitution, Article (13) “Division of Authority and Wealth”, recognizing the national status of forest resources. 1999 Presidential Decree No. 268 declaring Arbor Day Celebration on 3rd of August every year. 2002 Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Forest Service in Sudan. 2002 Enactment of the Forests and Renewable Natural Resources Act. 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, recognizing the environmental and socioeconomic role of Sudanese forests. 2006 Revised Sudan National Forestry Policy Statement (Draft). The Functions of the Forests National Corporation a. Intensifying afforestation activities for the purpose of protecting, producing and mobilizing popular effort in this respect. b. Encouraging the establishment of forests, together with providing seedlings, improved seeds and technical advice to both private and public sectors. c. Developing the production of all different types of gums namely gum Arabic and taking care of other non-wood forest products. d. Encouraging effective popular participation and presenting a good model for sustainable development. e. Getting involved in investment services where the private sector can’t operate individually. f. Setting up forest policies to fulfil local and national needs in perpetuity and protect the environment and suggesting laws to implement the forest policy. g. Carrying out studies and developing necessary technical plans for forest inventory for their development. Future Vision: The Forest Policy Statement 2006 stresses the rational use of forest resources in a wise, efficient and sustainable manner according to the values and principles, in response to the needs of the people of Sudan, creating jobs and opportunities for trade that will eradicate poverty, achieve food security, and bring about improvements to the country’s physical environment. This will be achieved through the participation of all key stakeholders. Efforts will be directed towards the development and conservation of the forest estate. This will be done through more forest reservations, ambitious planting programmes and sound management of the natural forests. An efficient extension programme will support these activities. In addition, manpower development will be pursued through a detailed training programme for improving the capabilities of the staff.