To facilitate the formulation of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) Action Plan in Sudan, a two-day consultation workshop was organized in Khartoum, Sudan on 6 - 7 October 2019 at the Grand Holiday Villa Hotel. Attended by the implementing partners as well as other project stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Livestock, the Ministry of Wildlife, as well as academia and the private sector, the event offered 60 participants a platform to exchange information and experiences related to national forest inventory (NFI) implementation, the use of forest data for national plans and strategies, and program sustainability and institutionalization.  The workshop was the beginning of an important process as REDD+ and forestry monitoring experts from Khartoum and various Sudanese States came together to identify the critical institutional capacity needs to ensure the country is able to meet its requirements for evidence-based policy formulation and international reporting obligations.

In his opening remarks, FAO Representative to Sudan Mr Babagana Ahmadu, highlighted the importance of the event and its topic to Sudan’s climate commitments: “Understanding that climate change is one of the defining challenges and risks of our generation and global efforts to address these challenges require a multi-pronged approach – one of our focus is to strengthen institutional capacity,” stated Mr Ahmadu. “Having adequate national forest monitoring system capacity, and well-resourced institutions, and technically competent staff will enable Sudan achieve its REDD+ goals contributing to the overall economic development across all sectors.”

This workshop is very important for Sudan to develop the national forest monitoring system. Participants representing all the states in Sudan, who participated in the NFI activities as well as NGOs and academia have contributed to the national priorities and provided insight into the capacity needs assessment,” said Sayeda Adam, REDD+ coordinator at FNC. “The knowledge gained from this workshop will support decision makers on land and forest sector focused decisions as well as increase the capacity of staff of the National Forestry Corporation.”

 Nelson Gapare, FAO consultant supporting the institutional capacity needs and gap assessment for NFMS and MRV reflected on the next steps: “Following this national workshop, the government of Sudan will start formulating its NFMS Action Plan outlining how it will address any identified institutional capacity needs and gaps. The development of an action plan is an important step towards strategizing about how to finance the short, medium and long-term requirements to meet national and international climate change reporting requirements – for instance – obligations under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. The gradual development of the NFMS and relevant MRV functions will be fundamentally important as Sudan embarks on new economic policies across all sectors including agriculture and forestry”.

 Looking at Sudan’s forests from above

Separate parallel training sessions on remote sensing were held during the workshops, allowing the participants from Forests National Corporation, the Remote Sensing & Seismology Authority and research institutions to have better access to precise and timely data and support Sudan in combating deforestation to help meet national and international climate targets. Remote sensing technologies, which includes sensors, processing software and analysis, has been extensively studied and applied in Sudan in various sectors including Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU). Studies that employed remote sensing have improved understanding of the state of Sudan’s forests. At the strategic level of forest planning, or in general planning for forest resource allocation over a wide area, remote sensing can play an important role in estimating and monitoring forest cover.

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Fire management workshop was held in forests National Corporation Sahel Center during the period 7-12/ 9 / 2019 within the framework of the Sudan forest management. Fire Mapping for Sustainable Development 

Workshop Duration: Six days

Main aim of   this workshop   was to build and raise capacities in the management and monitoring of forest and prairie fires

The workshop was characterized by significant participation from wide sectors with a total of 15 participants (9 women and 6 men) nine forests and six from the relevant authorities Including National expert on wildfires, Sudanese National Remote Sensing Authority , Universities (Kordofan University College of Forestry and Pasture (,General Administration of Civil Defense, General Administration of Wildlife, Meteorological Authority , Focal point of  fires , Gums Administration , REDD + program , Range & Pasture Administration,

Topics of the Workshop included the follows

Introduction: What are forest fires and their effects? To prevent fire want needed and what available.

The uses of remote sensing to manage fire , Forest fire analysis with remote sensing data.

How   to make Vegetation   Index.

Forest   fire    mapping.

MODIS image interpretation and analysis

How to use  vector  system

Training workshop on the monitoring and mapping of forests fires

Training workshop on the monitoring and mapping of forests fires

Training workshop on the monitoring and mapping of forests fires

Training workshop on the monitoring and mapping of forests fires

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The gumbelt workshop was held in Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State in February 7-8, 2019 within the framework of the overall program of reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in Sudan. The gumbelt cover vast areas of central Sudan, and has significant environmental, economic and social values.  The workshop focused on the contributing and driving factors to the rehabilitation in terms gum trees, other natural resources and the local communities. The emphasis was on gum Arabic producing trees (mainly Acacia senegal) due to their environmental and societal role, in addition to their contribution in the efforts to mitigate climate change. The main objectives were:

1. Highlight the contribution of the gumbelt in the mitigation of climate change, reducing emissions, economic values and social importance.
2. Engage and mobilize gum Arabic producers and associations in the rehabilitation of the efforts within the framework of exchanging and promoting benefits.
3. Strength the roles of executive, civil society leaders and the civil societies; and to create partnerships between the official and the community towards protection and sustainable management of the gumbelt.
4. Coordinate efforts of the executive, technical and academic bodies related to the purpose of protecting and rehabilitation of the belt by monitoring, surveying, identifying of sustainable management options and meeting the challenges.

The workshop was attended by a significant number of participants (153: 49 women and 104 men), representing stakeholders, executive entities and civil leaders. They contributed by attending, presentations and active involvement in the discussion and the workshop activities. The workshop was honored by the attention and the speech presented by the Governor of North Kordofan State, and characterized by a large representation of the executive leaderships, director general and directors of the Forests National Corporation, a number of researchers from the Universities and the Agricultural Research Commission, as well as representatives of the civil bodies and producers of gum Arabic, in addition to the media .

Workshop program and side events

Day 1: Thursday February 7th, 2019

1. Inaugural session honored by the Governor of North Kordofan State
2. Scientific and technical working sessions and recommendations

 Day 2: Friday  February 8th, 2019: Field visits to Gum belt rehabilitation sites in North Kordofan State.

Day 3: Saturday February 10th, 2019: Departure of participants

Workshop Recommendations

1. To intensify the rehabilitation efforts and activities by the Forests National Corporation, other formal sectors and the farmers in gum Arabic producing states by enhancing regeneration using seeds and seedlings, and strengthen the procedures of protection from illegal felling of trees, grazing and fire.
2. To encourage and strengthen the participation of youth, woman and the private sector in protection, regeneration operations and production of gum Arabic.
3. To expand extension and guidance efforts and messages for farmers and gum producers at all stages of production from tapping of all of the productive trees and gum Arabic collection, storage and marketing.
4. To strengthen the capacities of producers, associations and communities to increase production and achieve a rewarding return by contracting systems, and to provide financial aids to increase production and to open up prospects and opportunities for local marketing (such as Al-Obeid stock exchange) and foreign markets.
5. To improve and intensify developmental research and introduction of intermediate technology on regeneration, methods of gum production, marketing, and alternative uses of gum products.
6. To provide basic and supportive services for the forest and farming communities in the gum belt as an integral part to the production of gum Arabic and the rehabilitation efforts of gum Arabic belt.
7. To expand the value chains of agricultural and animal products and enhance their benefits among stakeholders by leveraging the various projects and programs for the forest farming communities in the gum producing states
   

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The mangrove workshop and the accompanying programs were held in the city of Port-Sudan, Red Sea State - Sudan during the period 21-24 January 2019. The general aim of the workshop was to identify the current state of the Mangrove trees and its ecosystem on Sudan Red Sea coastal areas, their role in mitigating climatic change and to highlight their environmental and societal importance according to the following objectives:

1. To highlight the importance of mangrove forests and their ecosystems within the framework of reducing carbon emission
2. To raise awareness of mangrove forests environmental, social and economic values.
3. To strengthen the role of the executives and civil society organizations, and to create partnerships between the formal authorities and the communities in the management and protection activities.
4. To address the challenges by enhancing coordination among the relevant executive, technical and academic units for conservation and development of mangrove ecosystems by regular inventories and identification of sustainable management methodologies.

The workshop was characterized by significant participation from wide sectors with a total of 156 participants (52 women and 104 men). The participants represented authorities that are directly and indirectly linked with the Mangrove ecosystems.  They included significant representation of executive leaders in the Red Sea State headed the Governor, Deputy Director of the Forest National Corporation (FNC), President of the Red Sea University, representatives of the municipal authorities (mayors) and civil societies, in addition to the media

Workshop program and side events

Day 1: Tuesday, January 10th, 2019  at al Rabwah Tourist Hotel (annexed program)

1. Opening session attended and patronage by the Red Sea Governor.
2. Scientific and technical working sessions and recommendations.

Day 2: Wednesday, Jan 23th, 2019

3. Field visits to mangrove forests and ecosystems.

Day 3: Thursday Jan 24th 2019

4. Field visits to coastal and mountainous ecosystems in the Red Sea state.

Day 4: Friday Jan 25th, 2019

5. Departure of participants from Port Sudan

Workshop Recommendations

1. Inventory and monitoring of mangrove forests for sustainable management, development and expansion along the Red Sea Coast.
2. Legalize the status of the mangrove forest as natural reserve or reserved forests at the national or state level and supervised by a beneficiary mechanism under the technical supervision of the FNC.
3. Make use of previous lessons and international experiences, in addition to possible introduction of economically viable new mangrove species.
4. Provide support for research and scientific studies in the fields of propagation, regeneration and economic and environmental benefits.
5. Raising awareness of local communities, official and private entities about the environmental and economic values of mangrove forests.
6. Training of workers and local communities in the management aspects of mangrove forests through demonstration visits, past experiences and studies.

7.        Establishment of a forestry program or forest department in the Red Sea state and in coordination with other formal sectors like the naval forces in the conservation of mangrove forests and biodiversity in general