Land Cover/Land Use Trends along the Blue Nile River Blue Nile State – Sudan

Abstract

The study focused on quantifying the extent and sources of the deterioration of the vegetation cover of the study area at the Sudanese Blue Nile watershed in relation to agriculture extension policy, inefficient management and Lack of governmental policy. 

The Research was based on forest and vegetation inventory and soil analysis to determine the current situation using ground survey, forest inventory and remote sensing data as well as secondary information from other sources to cover historical records from 1990 to 2015.

The results showed a significant change in natural ecosystems during the study period due to the change in the land use patterns.  The Closed forests, open forests, and rural settlement areas were found to decrease by -90%, -43% and -32% respectively during the period (1990-2000). This negative trend was reflected in a positive trend showed by expansion in agriculture (+267%), horticulture (+73%), bare land (144%), and urban areas (12%).  During the period (2010-2015), which was the civil war period, the area of closed forests, open forests and urban areas were increased, in comparison to that of 1990-2000) by 201,10, and 247% respectively, while that of agriculture, Rural areas, and bare lands is negative (-51, -54 and -68% respectively).

The major factor for the change is mainly attributed to the migration of rural people towards urban areas due to civil war and economic crises. In addition, it is expected that there are other factors such as the absence of clear plans and coordination between concerned government authorities, at local and national levels, which may need further investigations and studies to clear the whole picture.