Impact of Climate Change Vulnerability on Forest cover in White Nile State, Sudan (A Case Study of Tendelti and Guli Localities)

Abstract

This study was carried out during 2019 in Guli and Tendelti localities. Four methods for data collection were used (1) Vulnerability assessment by using the satellite images (2) Key informant interview (KII), (3) Focus group Discussion (FGD) and (4) direct field observations. According to MODIST and LAND SAT-8 data about 51% of Guli locality was classified as slightly vulnerable to climate change, 3% as moderate vulnerable and 46% as non- vulnerable. In Tendelti locality about 45% from the locality area was classified as slight vulnerable 1% as moderate vulnerable and 53% are slightly vulnerable. The forest cover in Guli locality was estimated at 12,289 ha in 2000. By year 2018 forest area was decreased to 8,349 ha (68%) of forest areas was converted to grassland (31%) was converted to agricultural land. According to the FNC reports, they are about 38 forests in Guli locality and there are some community. The forest status in the area was deteriorated. The main tree species in the targeted villages are Seyal (<i>Acacia tortilis</i>), Sunt (<i>Acacia nilotica</i>), loat (<i>Acacia nubica</i>), Talh (<i>Acacia seyal</i>) and Sider (<i>Ziziphus spina-christia</i>), Heglieg (<i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i>) and Merikh (<i>Boscia senegalensis</i>). For Tendelti locality the Landsat images for the periods 2000 and 2018 showed that the initial forest area was estimated at 116,808 ha in 2000 reducedto109,953 ha (94%) by the year 2018 as follows; 81,724 (70%) to grass land and 26,164 ha (22%) to agricultural land. The clearance of forest occurred in the southern part of the locality. The factors that lead to the forest deterioration in the targeted villages are low and erratic rainfall, drought and desertification, over cutting, over grazing, traditional Rainfed farming. The study recommended many intervention to improve the forest cover which include; enforcement of forestry laws, provision of improved stove and LPG, introduction of agro forestry systems, establishment of community forestry, provision of tree seedlings, renewable energy technologies; and biogas for domestic energy and lightning, rehabilitation of degraded range land by seeds broadcasting of palatable perennials species, opening of animal routes and fire lines and, provide new water points and redistribution of the old one.