Contribution of Non-wood Forest Products to Sustainable Livelihood of Local Communities in Um Ruwaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan

This study investigated the contribution of some NWFPs to the sustainable livelihood of local communities in Um Ruwaba Locality, North Kordofan State. It identified the uses and importance of some NWFPs and highlighted constraints and measures of risks confronting their investment. Primary data were collected through interviewing local people (104) and group discussion with Forests National Corporation (FNC) staff, and secondary data were obtained from relevant source, e.g. FNC files, annual reports, project documents and previous studies conducted in the same site. The majority of the respondents (70%) relied on agriculture as the main source of income. Collection of NWFPs and handicraft activity, based on NWFPs, represented the second important for income generation. About 4.7% of the respondents rely solely on NWFPs for income generation. The main NWFPs collected were Aradaib (Tamarindus indica), Garad (Acacia nilotica), Lalob (Balanities aegyptiaca), Goungolaiz (Adansonia digitata) and Sinamaka (pods of Cassia senna). For household consumption, NWFPs are collected from distances varying between 1 and 2.5 km, while for trading collectors may travel long distances for collecting considerable amount of NWFPs. Hand picking, tree climbing, sticks and stretched mats are used in NWFPs collection. NWFPs do not contribute considerably to the budget of the FNC. It is concluded that NWFPs are liable to damage by birds and insects; therefore, their prices are influenced by these factors. The FNC has not exerted efforts to inventor the resource or to assess the natural regeneration of the NWFPs producing trees. FNC has to provide the people with extension services and to appreciate the NWFPs activit