Sudan is prone to drought, notably in the North and East Darfur States, which have recently experienced numerous cycles of drought. These severely damaged livelihoods impacted the natural resource base and compelled a shift from small-scale to large-scale agriculture productions to make a living, leading to changes in land use and further degrading the overall Darfur ecosystem.
In the project's target areas, FNS-REPRO has repaired ten square kilometres of degraded rangelands in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (Rangeland Directorate) in North and East Darfur, delineating 100 km of animal movement routes and opening 1 000 km of crucial fire lines were a part of the restoration work in both states.
The underlying theory is that healthy rangelands reduce conflicts and tensions between pastoralists and farmers, protect natural resources and vegetation covers, and produce more high-quality livestock. These livestock, combined with diversified grazing resources and reduced ecological impacts during sensitive times, improve market access and improve returns for stock-owning rural livelihoods, leading to improved basal cover and grassland.
As part of the restoration efforts, the local radio stations of North and East Darfur states broadcasted an awareness-raising program campaign and delivered messages targeting both pastoralists and agro-pastoralists about the important role of community-based rangeland management in managing local grazing, sorting the conflict over resources, and provide more opportunities for women participation through intensive dialogue. The messages also focused on the types and value of seed distribution and broadcasting and the idea of co-managing grazing areas. To lessen soil erosion and enhance the microclimate, the restoration involved replacing windbreakers and desirable kinds of pasture seeds through agroforestry and agro-silvo-pastoral systems.
The restoration team collaborated and consulted with herder groups, communities, native administrations, Natural Resources Management Committees, and local authorities, who supervised the measures and advised on the degraded grazing areas to ensure sustainability.
To further improve the health of the grazing pasture, the restoration team also introduced sustainable land management practices like rotational grazing and water conservation methods. These actions enhanced the region's biodiversity and ecological resilience in addition to raising the calibre of the pasture available to animals.
