Preassessment of natural resource issues in Sudan

Chapter I of this multidisciplinary collection of papers addresses this problem, with special emphasis on carrying capacity and pastoral resources. Government management of anti-desertification activities is also discussed. Chapter II considers Sudan"s declining national energy supply, focusing on rural energy use as a major contributor to the desertification process. Chapter III illustrates rural water supply problems by examining the distribution of water sources in six water-deficient regions; the author notes that institutional conflicts are at the root of many water problems. Chapter IV addresses deforestation resulting from agricultural expansion, burning to create grazing pastures, and inefficient methods of charcoal production. Chapter V focuses on siltation in reservoirs and irrigation systems and its impact on agricultural productivity. Chapter VI examines soil degradation due to mechanized farming in rainfed area, while Chapter VII traces the spread of two diseases - malaria and schistosomiasis - and their relationship to the development of irrigation projects. All authors agree that Sudan"s greatest deterrent to combating desertification is lack of an integrated land use policy. The papers present guidelines for developing such a policy, as well as for shorter-range interventions. Includes 64 figures, an appendix which rates environmental problems by geographic region, and 5-page bibliography.