environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics
environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics
IntroductionTHE Greater Darfur region occupies an area of five hundred thousand square kilometresapproximately, in the north western part of the Sudan, located betweenthe parallels 08:15 and 20:00 North and 22:00 and 27:30 East. The desert partextends from north of parallel 16:00 to 20:00 in an area of about one hundred andforty-five thousand square kilometers representing twenty-eight percent of the totalarea of the region. The desert part is virtually unoccupied and therefore it hasno human activities that utilize water or land for agriculture or range.The region mainly consists of four main climatic zones. Firstly, the rich savannain the south with an average rain fall between 400 mm to 800 mm per year; therainy season extends between 4 to 5 months. Secondly, the poor savanna in themiddle of the region, with an average annual rainfall that ranges between 200 to400 mm and a rainy season ranging between 3 to 4 months. Thirdly, is the arid zonewhich occupies the middle of northern parts of the region. The rainfall in this zoneis limited, with high fluctuations and ranges from 100 to 300 mm. The fourth zoneis the desert zone and it is characterized by lack of rainfall and high temperaturesduring the summer.Topography: Darfur is sandy and qoz soils occupy the major parts and formabout sixty-five percent of the northern parts of the region and 10 to 15% of thesouthern parts. The mountainous and hilly lands perform the middle part and it isrepresented by Jebel Marra plateau, and in the north it is represented by MeidobHills. Clay and gardud soils occupy the western and south western parts and somepockets in the north.Jebel Marra Plateau acts as a watershed division and from which flows most ofthe seasonal streams and wadis such as Wadi Barei, Wadi Azoom, and these flowto the west and southwest of the region. In turn, Wadi Al Ku, Wadi Taweela, WadiKuttum, Wadi AlKaj flow towards the east and south eastern part. Wadi Kas, WadiBulbul and others flow towards the south and southeast of South Darfur. Some ofthese wadis retain water in some areas which helps in utilizing the water of theshallow wells to grow vegetables and horticultural crops (Kabkabiya, Kuttum, Garsilaetc).The deep water aquifers of Baggara, Sag Anaam, and Umbayada basins aregood potential sources of drinking water for the people and animals in the northeastern and south eastern parts of the region.The rainfalls in autumn and floods as well as shallow wells are the cornerstones forthe Darfurian socioeconomic activities for providing food and other forms of livelihood.These economic activities are mainly agriculture and include the raising oflivestock. However, since the two activities depend on water and land, competitionbetween the users of these resources is a reality.The present Darfur crisis which is the focus of the national and international media34
and the concern of the national and international communities was initiated bythe competition and conflicts over the natural resources. Therefore, any attemptto solve the present conflict must consider the dimension and role of the naturalresources as used by the stakeholders in Darfur.For the purpose of this workshop, this paper is an attempt to analyze the potentialof the land and water in the region in the past and present and to examine to whatextent competition over them has contributed in the present crisis. Lack or verylimited availability of data and statistics about the natural resources in Darfur is tosome extent balanced by the long experience of the writer in Darfur. To explain thepresent crisis, let us discuss in brief.1. Population and population growth in Darfur.2. Subsistence farming.3. Livestock.4. Range and Pasture.5. Water.1. PopulationSimilarly to other parts of the Sudan and Africa, the population of Darfur has increasedsubstantially over the last fifty years. As the result of this, the populationdensity has increased tremendously. The table below explains this increase.Table: Population density changes in Darfur (1956- 2002).Year Population Density (Person / Km21956 1,080,000 31973 1,340,000 41983 3,500,000 101993 5,600,000 152003 6,480,000 18(Source: population figures, Department of statistics. Area 360,000Km2 below parallel 16:00North)The increased population has pressed its need for a livelihood upon the naturalresources and has thus resulted in great pressure upon, overuse and misuse ofthese resources. In turn the ecological conditions have changed through decliningrainfall, drought and desertification etc.35
- Page 1: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATIONAS A CAUSE
- Page 4 and 5: Cover Photo:AU forces patrol Darfur
- Page 7 and 8: PREFACEThese essays were originally
- Page 9 and 10: AcknowledgementsThe conference was
- Page 11 and 12: Executive SummaryByMary E. King and
- Page 13 and 14: the theme of the conference, outlin
- Page 15 and 16: • The question of warrior culture
- Page 17 and 18: Deryke Belshaw, University of East
- Page 19 and 20: area in West Darfur of 1.5m feddans
- Page 21 and 22: on the interaction between conflict
- Page 23 and 24: Conflict In DarfurHistorical andCon
- Page 25 and 26: distributive centre and where the r
- Page 28 and 29: sues quite separate. Evidence for t
- Page 30 and 31: FOOTNOTES1It is not my purpose here
- Page 32 and 33: 20On other emerging ethnically-base
- Page 36 and 37: 2. Agriculture (Farming)Crop farmin
- Page 38 and 39: Secondly, the demand for mutton and
- Page 40 and 41: groundnut and sesame as sources of
- Page 42 and 43: The situation of drinking water in
- Page 44 and 45: ReferencesConference, Meleet, North
- Page 46 and 47: IntroductionTHE residents of the Um
- Page 48 and 49: Phase Two:This phase was a monitori
- Page 50 and 51: zone southward — and to use these
- Page 52 and 53: • Some water points in places lik
- Page 54 and 55: This study and the seminar organize
- Page 57 and 58: Land Tenure,Land Use andConflicts i
- Page 59 and 60: tain innovations called hakura (pl.
- Page 61 and 62: mands for food production. All thes
- Page 63 and 64: Hashab Tenure SystemHashab ownershi
- Page 65 and 66: co-exist at the local level where e
- Page 67 and 68: IndigenousInstitutions andPractices
- Page 69 and 70: abs. In the past they had been invo
- Page 71 and 72: Sufi OrderSufi orders are religious
- Page 73 and 74: Native Administration, i.e. Tribal
- Page 75 and 76: Rizayqat homeland is at the extreme
- Page 77 and 78: esearchers and statesmen. A bigger
- Page 79: ReferencesBakheit, Jaafar M.Ali. 19
- Page 82 and 83: IntroductionWHILE in the Sudan prot
and the concern <strong>of</strong> the national and <strong>in</strong>ternational communities w<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiated bythe competition and <strong>conflict</strong>s over the natural resources. Therefore, any attemptto solve the present <strong>conflict</strong> must consider the dimension and role <strong>of</strong> the naturalresources <strong>as</strong> used by the stakeholders <strong>in</strong> Darfur.For the purpose <strong>of</strong> this workshop, this paper is an attempt to analyze the potential<strong>of</strong> the land and water <strong>in</strong> the region <strong>in</strong> the p<strong>as</strong>t and present and to exam<strong>in</strong>e to whatextent competition over them h<strong>as</strong> contributed <strong>in</strong> the present crisis. Lack or verylimited availability <strong>of</strong> data and statistics about the natural resources <strong>in</strong> Darfur is tosome extent balanced by the long experience <strong>of</strong> the writer <strong>in</strong> Darfur. To expla<strong>in</strong> thepresent crisis, let us discuss <strong>in</strong> brief.1. Population and population growth <strong>in</strong> Darfur.2. Subsistence farm<strong>in</strong>g.3. Livestock.4. Range and P<strong>as</strong>ture.5. Water.1. PopulationSimilarly to other parts <strong>of</strong> the Sudan and Africa, the population <strong>of</strong> Darfur h<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>edsubstantially over the l<strong>as</strong>t fifty years. As the result <strong>of</strong> this, the populationdensity h<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed tremendously. The table below expla<strong>in</strong>s this <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e.Table: Population density changes <strong>in</strong> Darfur (1956- 2002).Year Population Density (Person / Km21956 1,080,000 31973 1,340,000 41983 3,500,000 101993 5,600,000 152003 6,480,000 18(Source: population figures, Department <strong>of</strong> statistics. Area 360,000Km2 below parallel 16:00North)The <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed population h<strong>as</strong> pressed its need for a livelihood upon the naturalresources and h<strong>as</strong> thus resulted <strong>in</strong> great pressure upon, overuse and misuse <strong>of</strong>these resources. In turn the ecological conditions have changed through decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gra<strong>in</strong>fall, drought and desertification etc.35
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