The effect of human activities on growth and survival of acacia tortilis habila area, White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Acacia tartilis subsp.raddiana (sayal) plays an important role in the life of desert animals, is a major source of livestock feed, and firewood for the pastoral rural societies in Habila area, White Nile state Sudan. low regeneration has been reported in recent years leading to the decline in population size and number of this species. This study aims to determine if A. tortilis subsp. raddiana reduction population correlates or associates with Soil seed banks or the decrease of tree density in rangeland .Observations were conducted on the natural regeneration species and mature population in three selected sites (inside forest, forest boundary and outside forest) the study was done through counting the trees and natural regeneration and samples were taken for soil seed bank analysis . The result shows natural regeneration and soil seed bank of sayal affected by different factors such as drought and human interference including over-grazing, over-cutting, over-collecting, and habitat destruction have threatened this species by increasing the mortality of mature trees and reducing natural regeneration. Social demonstration must be involved in the preservation and managing this most valuable tree in arid dry area.