Chapters authored
Forest Degradation in Dryland Ecosystems of Sudan: Review of the Causes, Consequences, Assessment Methods, and Potential Solutions
Dryland forests are ecologically and socioeconomically important. They contribute to livelihood diversification, food security, animal feed and shelter, and environmental conservation in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Sudan. Despite their importance, current findings show that multiple ecological, human, socio-economic, and policy factors have damaged these resources. As a result, undesirable consequences have been observed, such as food famine, land and water resource degradation, decline/loss of biodiversity, and contribution to global warming that affect the welfare of humans, plants, animals, and micro-organisms. This chapter briefly reviews the forest degradation in drylands Sudan with emphasis on its common causes, impacts, assessment methods, management intervention efforts, and potential future solutions. Given the current situation, there must be urgent combating efforts to manage Sudan\'s dryland forest resources properly. On the one hand, following prevention measures to essentially deal with the current causes thus prevent any further degradation of forest resources in dryland Sudan. On the other hand, there is an urgent need to address current degradation following appropriate and timely rehabilitation interventions. We also recommend adopting a serious monitoring and evaluation system within these combating efforts by applying the five common indicators for measuring forest degradation: biodiversity, productive functions, carbon storage, forest health, and protective functions.
Part of the book: Mitigating Global Climate Change
Forests at the Crossroads: Biodiversity Conservation in the Era of Climate Change
Tropical forests are biodiversity-rich habitats on the globe because they host diversified flora and fauna species, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. The forest resources in Sudan are a vital aspect of the nation’s ecological and economic framework. However, they face threats from agriculture, logging, and degradation, leading to loss of forest cover and reduced biodiversity. This chapter reviews Sudan’s dryland forests, highlighting their importance, forest biodiversity, ecosystem services, environmental degradation, conservation challenges, biodiversity information gap, threats, and the urgent need for sustainable management strategies. It emphasizes the significance of protecting these forests to maintain ecological balance and promote socioeconomic development. Addressing these challenges requires urgent and effective conservation and management efforts to preserve these vital resources.
Part of the book: Sustainable Forest Management