Forest Plantations/Woodlots in the eastern and northeastern African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Sudan

Abstract

A background chapter, including country area, population, state of forest and tree resources, deforestation rate, and economic outlook, is provided presenting also the objectives and scope of the study. Sudan is the largest country in Africa and is rich with diversity of forest resources which constitute a base for substantial contributions in economic development. It is characterised by variation in edaphic and climatic zones from north to south with the desert and semi-arid areas constituting almost 50% of the country area. The Savanna zone (40% of the area) is the richest in forest resources and most inhabited part of the Sudan. Agricultural expansion in the savannas constitutes the major factor that causes deforestation and forest degradation at a rate of 0.74% per year. However, forests which are presently believed to cover 29.4% of the country area contribute significantly in the dominant traditional sector that revolves around traditional land use.