Authors : Osman Elmakki

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yerf2ner

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/23m4fk9m

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr1782

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Sudan’s natural resource management is shaped by complex interactions between local practices, ecological conditions, and socio-cultural systems, where traditional knowledge plays a central role in sustaining livelihoods amid increasing environmental pressures. The research addresses the persistent disconnect between indigenous ecological knowledge and state-led management approaches, a gap that has contributed to resource degradation, weakened community resilience, and reduced biodiversity. The study investigates how local practices influence natural resource outcomes and examines the extent to which traditional ecological knowledge contributes to sustainable management in Sudan. Drawing on mixed data sources, the study employs qualitative evidence from semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and community narratives, complemented by quantitative analyses of land-use and forest-cover change using remote sensing data. Additional materials include systematic reviews of existing literature on ethnoecology, medicinal plant use, and traditional conservation practices. Results reveal measurable improvements associated with indigenous practices, including increased vegetation recovery in areas applying rotational grazing and diversified cropping, as well as documented species persistence in regions governed by cultural norms such as sacred groves and taboos. Remote sensing analysis shows positive forest-cover trends in community-managed zones compared to declines in state-controlled areas. Quantitative synthesis further indicates high reliance on traditional medicinal plants, with multiple studies reporting more than 70% usage rates among rural households. Major findings show that indigenous knowledge systems significantly shape land, water, and plantresource management, exerting measurable influence on ecosystem stability, biodiversity retention, and community-level socio-ecological resilience, demonstrating the interconnectedness between local practices and broader environmental outcomes across Sudan.

Keywords : Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Natural Resource Management, Socio-Ecological Resilience, Sustainable Livelihoods, Biodiversity Conservation, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Land-Use Practices, Climate Variability, Community-Based Management, Ecosystem Sustainability.

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