Management of forest environments and

sustaining forest-dependent sustaining forest-dependent communities:communities:

Options for dryland Africa based on Options for dryland Africa based on experiences from Sudanexperiences from Sudan

Edinam K. GloverEdinam K. Glover

Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki, FinlandFaculty of Law, University of Helsinki, Finland

OutlineOutline

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. Existing Experiences in PartnershipExisting Experiences in Partnership

3.3. ConclusionsConclusions

4.4. RecommendationsRecommendations

IntroductionIntroduction• Large-scale degradation has

occurred in the Sudan as a result of past unsuccessful land use policies and practices.

• Forest management was earlier (since 1932) based on a policy that restricts the access of local communities to the forests except within special permits.

Figure 1. Bare soil enhances erosion. Photo by Eddie Glover.

Introduction contd.Introduction contd.• People therefore had

to illegally enter the forests for farming, wood collection (Figure 2), grazing and charcoal burning (Figure 3)

Figure 2. Provision of fuelwood is a woman‘s task. Photo by Eddie Glover.

Introduction contd.Introduction contd.

Fig. 3. Fulfillment of fuelwood and fodder needs leads to forest degradation if not properly planned. Photo by Eddie Glover

Status of forest resources in the Status of forest resources in the SudanSudan

FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) (FAO FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) (FAO 2001), the total forest cover of Sudan is estimated as 2001), the total forest cover of Sudan is estimated as 61,630,000 ha 61,630,000 ha

constitutes 26 percent of the country’s land area of constitutes 26 percent of the country’s land area of 237,600,000 ha. 237,600,000 ha.

The forest cover area in the Sudan decreased from The forest cover area in the Sudan decreased from 71,220,000 ha in 1990 to 61,630,000 ha in 2000, a 71,220,000 ha in 1990 to 61,630,000 ha in 2000, a decrease of 959,000 ha/year; 90% of which is for fuel decrease of 959,000 ha/year; 90% of which is for fuel and charcoal making (ADB/EC/FAO 2003.and charcoal making (ADB/EC/FAO 2003.

The annual rate of forest cover change in the Sudan is The annual rate of forest cover change in the Sudan is -1.4%.-1.4%.

Government institutions, Government institutions, Local community organizations Local community organizations NGOsNGOs

at local and national levels, try to at local and national levels, try to ameliorate this situation through a ameliorate this situation through a range of partnerships. range of partnerships.

Existing experiences in partnershipExisting experiences in partnership

Elrawashda Model IElrawashda Model I

and and

Elrawashda Model IIElrawashda Model II

LocationLocation

Figure 4. Map of Sudan (Glover 2005)

(a) Elrawashda Model I(a) Elrawashda Model I Tree establishment was carried out Tree establishment was carried out

by different methods (Taungya by different methods (Taungya system) including local people, but system) including local people, but protection was executed by the protection was executed by the forest guards and officers forest guards and officers

Table 1.Table 1. Survival and stocking densities of the established forestry Survival and stocking densities of the established forestry crop protected by forestry authorities in Elrawashda forest reserve; crop protected by forestry authorities in Elrawashda forest reserve;

from inventory data of FNC during 1988-1999 (FNC 1999).from inventory data of FNC during 1988-1999 (FNC 1999).

BlockArea (ha)

Inventory in 1st yr (1988) after establishment

Inventory in 2nd yr (1989) after establishment

MeasuredStock(trees/ha)

Stocking(%)of fullstock

Measured stock (tree/ha)

Stocking(%)

Remarks

185 None None None None Completely destroyed by grazing

70 1250 50 No survival None

27 5200 208 No survival None

30 Very dense Over stocked 875 35 Effect of grazing

25 Very dense Over stocked 804 32

Elrawashda Model contd.Elrawashda Model contd.

Inventories by FNC showed a failure in Inventories by FNC showed a failure in the management system caused by the management system caused by lack of local people´s participation.lack of local people´s participation.

(b) Elrawashda Model II(b) Elrawashda Model II Selected blocks of degraded parts allocated Selected blocks of degraded parts allocated

for integrated land use involving a for integrated land use involving a rehabilitation process on a participatory rehabilitation process on a participatory approach.approach.

Partnership between FNC/Agricultural Partnership between FNC/Agricultural Development Project for the Eastern Sudan Development Project for the Eastern Sudan (ADES) project and the local people in (ADES) project and the local people in planting, protecting and getting mutual planting, protecting and getting mutual benefits from forest reserves. benefits from forest reserves.

75% of land is allocated for crop 75% of land is allocated for crop cultivation and on 25% the farmer cultivation and on 25% the farmer grows trees and is obliged to protect grows trees and is obliged to protect the young regenerationthe young regeneration

During four years the farmer gets During four years the farmer gets additional land and continues growing additional land and continues growing trees on 25% of his landtrees on 25% of his land

Tree rotation is 20 years (Tree rotation is 20 years (Acacia seyalAcacia seyal))

Table 2.Table 2. Regeneration, survival and stocking densities of forestry crop Regeneration, survival and stocking densities of forestry crop established and protected by farmers and forestry authorities in established and protected by farmers and forestry authorities in

Elrawashda forest reserve 1994-1998 (from data collected by Elsiddig Elrawashda forest reserve 1994-1998 (from data collected by Elsiddig 1999).1999).

BlockNo.

Age (years)

Area(ha)

Full stock(trees/ha)

Survival(trees/ha)

Stock density(%)

A 1 294.0 2,977 2,721 91.4

B 2 436.8 2,977 2,550 85.7

C 3 403.2 2,977 2,440 82.0

D 4 294.0 2,977 2,381 80.0

E 5 272.0 2,977 2,269 76.2

Two criteria indicate the success and Two criteria indicate the success and efficiency of the collaborative system efficiency of the collaborative system (i.e.Elrawashda model II) compared to (i.e.Elrawashda model II) compared to the formal centralized forest the formal centralized forest management system (i.e. Elrawashda management system (i.e. Elrawashda model I)model I)

Elrawashda model II contd.Elrawashda model II contd.

• Joint activities between farmers Joint activities between farmers and forest authorityand forest authority

•Successful establishment and Successful establishment and development of well-stocked and development of well-stocked and efficiency protected forest crop for efficiency protected forest crop for five age groupsfive age groups

Farmers also accept to pay 10 toFarmers also accept to pay 10 to

20% of the grain yield to forest20% of the grain yield to forest

authoritiesauthorities Government secures the land and Government secures the land and

crop and tree seeds to farmers crop and tree seeds to farmers

LessonsLessons In Elrawashda model II, collaborative -based In Elrawashda model II, collaborative -based

forest reserve management constitutes the forest reserve management constitutes the basis for natural forest rehabilitation and basis for natural forest rehabilitation and sustainable developmentsustainable development

The impact of extension and awareness The impact of extension and awareness raising on forest rehabilitation is clearly raising on forest rehabilitation is clearly noticeable at Elrawashda model IInoticeable at Elrawashda model II

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Elrawasda model II provides a good Elrawasda model II provides a good opportunity for system transfer to opportunity for system transfer to other natural forest reserves other natural forest reserves

Criteria Indicators

Elrawashda: Increase in forest cover based on people’s involvement

30 farmers in 1994 - 800 farmers in 1998

A good stocked forest cover of 76%-91%

ConclusionsConclusions Elrawashda model I:Elrawashda model I:

• Reservation policy adopted by government to Reservation policy adopted by government to manage the resource for the benefit of the manage the resource for the benefit of the people of Elrawashda was no longer effectivepeople of Elrawashda was no longer effective

• Extension was completely lackingExtension was completely lacking

• Prevention policy had a negative impact on Prevention policy had a negative impact on the forest resource manifested in a the forest resource manifested in a continuous deterioration of the forest reserve continuous deterioration of the forest reserve and loss of benefitsand loss of benefits

Partnership-based forest management in Partnership-based forest management in ElrawashdaElrawashda represents a progressive shift represents a progressive shift towards state recognition of the towards state recognition of the interdependence between the well-being of interdependence between the well-being of forests and the well-being of local people for forests and the well-being of local people for subsistence and livelihood needssubsistence and livelihood needs

ElrawashdaElrawashda is a rehabilitation success story is a rehabilitation success story in which people and the FNC have mutual in which people and the FNC have mutual benefits; the result is rehabilitation of the benefits; the result is rehabilitation of the forest and provision of people's needs forest and provision of people's needs

Elrawashda model I Elrawashda model I shows a success story shows a success story of community-based natural forest of community-based natural forest managementmanagement

Partnership between Partnership between FNC and the local FNC and the local peoplepeople facilitates efficient management of facilitates efficient management of natural forestsnatural forests

It also enhances forest protection against It also enhances forest protection against

illegal felling and thus may arrest forest illegal felling and thus may arrest forest degradation degradation

Elrawashda model II contd.:Elrawashda model II contd.: The system gains local people´s The system gains local people´s

confidence and this is reflected in good confidence and this is reflected in good forest performance forest performance

  Rehabilitation experience stimulates Rehabilitation experience stimulates policy change towards involving the policy change towards involving the traditional leadership and the forest-traditional leadership and the forest-dependent villagers in protection and dependent villagers in protection and conservationconservation

RecommendationsRecommendations Management experience gained need to be Management experience gained need to be

documented and transferred to other natural documented and transferred to other natural forest reservesforest reserves

Information on species densities, composition and Information on species densities, composition and structure is necessary for better management structure is necessary for better management plans and rational use of the forest resourceplans and rational use of the forest resource

Strong extension systems are needed to enhance Strong extension systems are needed to enhance local participation in managing natural forest local participation in managing natural forest reservesreserves

To take this concept to other new areas is To take this concept to other new areas is more a matter of dedication, hard work and more a matter of dedication, hard work and serious commitment than simply funding, as serious commitment than simply funding, as the approach is relatively easy to the approach is relatively easy to understandunderstand

However, there are no two identical rural However, there are no two identical rural communities, and working with local communities, and working with local communities is not always easy, something communities is not always easy, something which calls for active technical assistance by which calls for active technical assistance by experienced facilitators to keep this process experienced facilitators to keep this process of change on trackof change on track

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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