Skip to main content
Log in

Desertification in the Butana

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Within the project “Morphodynamic Processes and Desertification” of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, research has been carried out on the desertification of the Butana region in the Sahel of the Rep. of Sudan. The abolition of traditional rights of land use, with the resulting disorganized utilization of grazing lands and the self-generated sedentarization of many formerly nomadic groups, has led to a rapid desertification of the Butana, which was further accelerated by the droughts of the eighties. The combination of substratum and climatic conditions has diversified the extent of site degradation, with an accelerated development of dunes and badlands taking place due to severe vegetation transformation in areas with permanent water supply or with sandy soils.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu Sin, M. E.: Literature survey — Baseline information and a profile of central Butana, unpublished. Dept. of Geography Khartoum, Sudan 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar, M.: Das Naturpotential verschiedener Ökosystemeinheiten im sudanesischen Sahel. In: Horst G. Mensching,; Horst Seifert, (eds.), Göttinger Forschungsprojekte im Sudan. pp. 15–23. Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen, Kommission “Morphodynamische Prozesse, Prozeßkombinationen und Naturkatastrophen in den Landschaftszonen und Höhenstufen der Erde” 1991.

  • Babiker, A. B.: Urbanization and Desertification in the Sudan with Special Reference to Khartoum. GeoJournal 6,1, 69–76 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • DHV Consultants: Environmental profile Kassala province — Eastern Region, Sudan. Netherlands 1989.

  • Gläser, B.; Abdel Ati, H.; Mensching H.G.; Pörtge, K.-H.: Untersuchungen zum Kulturlandschaftswandel am unteren Atbara (Republik Sudan). Die Erde 119, 193–202 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, M. N.: Report on grazing survey of the Sudan. Department of Animal Production, Khartoum 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holter, U.: Veränderte Lebensformen von Tierhaltern unter dem Einfluß von Dürren am Beispiel von zwei ausgewählten Shukriya- und Rashaida-Gruppen. Preliminary results of field studies carried out in the Butana (Rep. Sudan) within the project: Livestock production in the Sahel at the Centre for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry, University of Göttingen, unpublished, 1992.

  • Hulme, M.: The changing rainfall resources of Sudan. Trans. Inst. of British Geogr., N. S. 15, 21–34 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussein, S. G.: Environmental degradation in a semi-arid range land in northern Sudan. In: Desertification Control Bulletin (ed. United Nations Environment Programme) 19, 29–32 (1991)

  • Ibrahim, F.N.: The exchange of livestock and grain and their role in enhancing vulnerability to famine in the semi-arid zone of the Sudan. In: Bohle, H.G.; Cannon, T.; Hugo, G.; Ibrahim, F.N. (eds.), Famine and food security in Africa and Asia. Bayreuther Geowissenschaftliche Arbeiten 15, 185–199 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, M.: Zur Bedeutung der Bewässerungsschemas für die Tierhaltung in der Butana: Anpassungsprozesse durch technologisch-institutionellen Wandel. In: Mensching, Horst G.; Seifert, Horst (eds.), Göttinger Forschungsprojekte im Sudan. pp. 111–123. Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen, Kommission “Morphodynamische Prozesse, Prozeßkombinationen und Naturkatastrophen in den Landschaftszonen und Höhenstufen der Erde” 1991.

  • Kirk, M.: Verfügungsrechte über Ressourcen und technologischer Wandel: Neuere Entwicklungen und Perpektiven in der Butana. Preliminary results of field studies carried out in the Butana (Rep. Sudan) within the project: Livestock production in the Sahel at the Centre for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry, University of Göttingen, unpublished, 1992.

  • Kowal, J.M.; Kassam A.H.: Agricultural ecology of Savanna. A study of West Africa. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensching, H.G.: Desertifikation. Ein weltweites Problem der ökologischen Verwüstung in den Trockengebieten der Erde. Wiss. Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensching, H.G.: Die Sahelzone: Naturpotential und Probleme seiner Nutzung. In: Beck, H.; Sträßer, M. (eds.), Problemräume der Welt 6. Köln 1991.

  • Pflaumbaum, H.: Futter- und Wasserressourcen in ihrer Bedeutung für ein auf nachhaltige Nutzung ausgerichtetes Weidemanagement. Preliminary results of field studies carried out in the Butana (Rep. Sudan) within the project: Livestock production in the Sahel at the Centre for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry, University of Göttingen, unpublished, 1992.

  • Schutzbar, von R.: Zucht- und Haltungsmethoden in Abhängigkeit sich verändernder Umweltbedingungen im Ostsudan. Preliminary results of field studies carried out in the Butana (Rep. Sudan) within the project: Livestock production in the Sahel at the Centre for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Forestry, University of Göttingen, unpublished, 1992.

  • Worral, G.A.: The Butana grass patterns. Journal of Soil Science 10, 1, 34–53 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Akhtar, M., Mensching, H.G. Desertification in the Butana. GeoJournal 31, 41–50 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00815902

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00815902

Keywords

Navigation