Assessment and Mapping of Forest Cover Change in Dryland, Sudan Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

Forest resources in the arid and semi-arid of Sudan are experiencing significant fluctuations in tree cover and ecological functionality. This study aims to bridge this gap by utilizing multi-temporal Landsat imagery and mapping forest cover change in the Nabag Forest Reserve (NFR) in South Kordofan State, Sudan. For this assessment, two cloud-free images (TM from 2011 and OLI from 2021) were downloaded and analyzed using ArcMap 10.7 and ERDAS 2014 software. Supervised classification techniques were applied, corroborated by GPS point verification and field surveys, to quantify changes in forest cover over the decade. The results revealed that dense forest cover increased from 9% in 2011 to 38.9% in 2021, while light forest cover decreased from 34.4% in 2011 to 30.9% in 2021. Additionally, the area occupied by agriculture and barren land declined from 37.2% and 19.4% in 2011 to 18.7% and 11.5% in 2021, respectively. Rapid shifts were observed in all LULC categories during the study period. The primary causes of deforestation and forest degradation were tree felling, unsustainable grazing practices, and construction activities. These findings are crucial for guiding future forest rehabilitation and creating targeted management plans for the local communities reliant on these forests.