Contribution of Non-wood Forest Products in Support of Livelihoods of Rural People Living in the Area South of Blue Nile State, Sudan
[1]
Mohamednour Abdelrahim, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), Field Office, Kosti, Sudan.
This study was undertaken to identify the role of non-wood forest products to forest-based rural livelihoods. NWFPs considered having very significant contribution in poverty alleviation and resource conservation; therefore, there are many global studies have dug deep in this subject and made it clear, but still the subject needs more consideration. The objective of study is mainly conducted to explore and find out the contribution of non-wood forest products in supporting rural livelihoods in the area south Blue Nile state. Primary data were collected through use of household questionnaire from eight villages located in four localities representing the southern part of Blue Nile state. Secondary data obtained through Focus Group Discussions, records, similar studies, reports and observations. The analysis of the data is mainly to assess the contribution of NWFPs in supporting livelihood of rural people living in the study area. The results of the study show that the majority of respondents (76%) are practicing farming as the main livelihood activity in the area, while (90%) of them are dependents on forest related activities for subsistence and income diversification. The study also revealed that collection of NWFPs is affected by the economic, social, cultural and geographical location of households, and it is performed by all household members, and that women have the highest share in collection process (62%). The study also indicated that NWFPs are traditionally collected to cope with uncertainties in agriculture production, and the average annual income generated by NWFPs per household is (SDG 6,612) which indicates higher income contribution to households (34%) compared to other levels of income combination, that ensures positive role of NWFPs to generate sustainable income for food and livelihood security.
Rural People, Livelihoods, Non-Wood Forest Products, Income
[1]
Abdelrahim, M. G., 2010. Traditional Utilization of Natural Resources and Sustainable Livelihood Support in Northwest Areas of White Nile state, Doctoral thesis. University of Bakht Arrida; pp. 23-53.
[2]
Belay, D., 2004. Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation: Case study of non-wood forest product systems. Volume 2 – Africa. PP. 25-36. Bangor, Indonesia.
[3]
Bridel, Jacquelin, 2003. Studying of Indigenous Plants and Non- Timber Products as related to traditional medicine in Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile state of Sudan, University of Missouri, USA.
[4]
Byron, R. N. and Arnold, J. E. M., 1999. What futures for the people of the tropical forests? World Development 27(5): 189-805.
[5]
Centre for Indian Studies. 2003. Interdisciplinary Conference Proceedings, Maysore, India, 17-19 October 2003.
[6]
DFID (Department for International Development), 1999/2000. Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets. London: DFID, at http://www.ids.ae.uk/livelihoods
[7]
ElSiddig, E.A. 2003. The Importance of Trees and Forests for Local Communities in Drylands of Sub Saharan Africa. Faculty of Forestry. University of Khartoum, 15p.
[8]
Elsiddig, E. A. 2007. Jebel Marra. The potentials for Resources and Rural Development. University of Khartoum. Faculty of Forestry, Shambat, 232p.
[9]
FAO, (1994). Policies for Sustainable Development. FAO Economic and Development Paper, No. 121.
[10]
FAO, (1997). State of World's Forests, Rome, Italy.
[11]
FAO, (2004). Non-wood forest products for rural income and sustainable development. Non-wood Forest Products (7). Rome, Italy.
[12]
FAO, (2008). Non Wood Forest Products, Rome, Italy.
[13]
FAO, (2010). Global Forest Resource Assessment. Sudan Country Report. Rome, Italy.
[14]
Global NTFPs Partnership, 2005. Inception Workshop held on 1-2 December 2005 at Marrakech, Morroco.
[15]
Hoven, I.G. 2002. The Convention to Combat Desertification – Aims and Implementation. In: Agriculture and Rural Development: 9(1): 49 – 53. Eschborner, Germany.
[16]
ILO 2002. http://www.ilo.org.
[17]
Madge, C. 1995. Ethnography and Agroforestry Research: A case study from Gambia. Agroforestry Systems, 32: 127 – 146.
[18]
Maydell, H. J. 1986. Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses GTZ, Eschborn.
[19]
Monela, G. C., Kajembe, G. C., 2000. Household Livelihood Strategies in the Miombo Woodland of Tanzania: emerging trends, Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation 73: 17-33.
[20]
World Bank, 2001. A revised forest strategy for the World Bank Group. World bank. http://www.worldbank.org/forestry.
