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Use of local knowledge for assessing vegetation changes in the S outhern G adarif R egion, S udan
Author(s) -
Sulieman Hussein M.,
Buchroithner Manfred F.,
Elhag Muna M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2011.01318.x
Subject(s) - vegetation (pathology) , firewood , geography , abundance (ecology) , grazing , ecological succession , seral community , threatened species , agroforestry , forestry , ecology , biology , medicine , pathology , habitat
The vegetation cover in G adarif R egion, S udan, underwent drastic changes within the last 60 years because of the combined effect of anthropogenic and climatic factors. As a consequence, a large number of plant species are threatened or even became extinct, and vast areas are now deforested. The purpose of this study is to use the local knowledge as a tool to identify and describe patterns of vegetation changes associated with the introduction of mechanized rain‐fed agriculture in the southern G adarif R egion. Data were collected by interviewing 10 key informants and 41 large‐scale farmers. The results provided rich ethnobotanical knowledge and a clear historical perspective of vegetation changes including plant species which have disappeared, decreased and increased in the area. The main factors leading to changes in plant species composition and abundance were vegetation clearance, charcoal and firewood production, wood cuttings, grazing and recently herbicides application. Respondents acknowledged that grazing, duration of abandonment, length of cultivation period, amount and variability of rainfall, fire events and weed composition are the major factors determining succession on fallow land. Farmers showed interest to preserve some multi‐purpose woody species (e.g. A cacia senegal , B alanites aegyptiaca ) in their land. Such species should be given priority in rehabilitation activities.