FOREST DEPENDENCY AND ITS EFFECT ON CONSERVATION IN SUDAN: A CASE OF SARF-SAAID RESERVED FOREST IN GADARIF STATE

The objectives of this study were to (i) identify the socioeconomic factors determining forest dependency of households around Sarf-saaid reserved forest; and (ii) assess the impact of dependency on households’ attitudes towards the forest conservation. A sample of 300 households was randomly selected from three villages surrounding Sarf-saaid reserved forest namely Sarf-saaid, Alam and Kisiaba in Galabat locality, Gadarif state in 2012. The data were collected using structured questionnaire interviews, direct observation and group discussion. The data were analysed using descriptive and logistic multi-regression analysis. The results showed that agricultural income (p 0.05), household age (p 0.05), access to outside market (p 0.05), and household size (p 0.1) were major determinants of forest dependency. The results also revealed that benefits from the farm trees (p 0.05), limited access to forest resources (p 0.05), and forest dependency (p 0.1) were the significant predictors of households’ attitudes towards Sarf-saaid forest conservation. The study concluded that consideration to socioeconomic characteristics of households living around the forest is essential in forestry conservation programs. Therefore, policy measures that aim at increasing agriculture income and generating off-farm employment opportunities for rural communities are important to reduce forest dependency and enhance conservation.