An invitation to protect Sudanese biological diversity in light of challenges – something for the homeland – ✍️ Mr. Salah Gharib
On March third of each year, International Land Conditions Day, and this is an opportunity to recall the importance of fauna and biological richness which contributes to continuous environmental balance on the planet. This year, the celebration comes in the light of many challenges that the world is confronted, from climate change to armed conflicts, which makes the need to protect more urgent fauna.
Wildlife is an integral part of our environmental system, as it contributes to maintaining environmental balance and offering many advantages to humans, including food, medicine and raw materials. It also plays an important role in environmental tourism, which is an important source of income in many countries.
Since April 2023, Sudan has witnessed armed conflicts that greatly affected fauna. The fighting destroyed natural habitats and animal trips, and increased illegal fishing and wild animals traffic.
Several media reports have declared that the conflict in Sudan has led to a significant deterioration in fauna, as a large number of wild animals, including endangered species, have been reported. An increase in illegal fishing and wild animals traffic has also been reported because some use the dominant chaos of the country to make financial gains.
Wildlife protection is a shared responsibility for governments, international organizations, civil society and individuals. We all have to work together to fight crime against wildlife and reduce human activities to reduce the number of species.
In this context, I call on the international community to provide the support necessary for Sudan to protect wildlife in the country. I also call on the Sudanese government to take urgent measures to stop illegal fishing and trade in wild animals.
Wild protection is an investment in our future, so let’s work together to maintain this precious treasure for future generations.
One of the measures that can be taken to protect fauna in Sudan is the intensification of patrols in natural reserves to combat illegal fishing, strictly apply laws to offenders and educate the local population on the importance of fauna and the need to protect them. And support local communities that live near nature reserves to provide alternative sources of income, while cooperating with international and local organizations to exchange experiences and resources.
