On the Anniversary of the National Tree Day: A Call for a Green Campaign to Restore Life to Sudan’s Forests

By: Dr. Nasreldin Shulgamy

August brings with it the occasion of the National Tree Day in Sudan. The idea began in 1963 in the Kordofan newspaper, published by Al-Fateh Al-Nour, before finding support from the authorities and becoming a well-established national event in the 1970s.

This environmental holiday aims to raise awareness of the importance of trees and their environmental, social, and economic benefits, while encouraging their planting and preservation, and combating the phenomenon of illegal logging that threatens the ecological balance.

However, in light of the ongoing war in the country and the lack of cooking gas in most areas, citizens have resorted to cutting down trees for fuel, using firewood and charcoal. This has opened the door wide for war profiteers who have actively depleted the remaining vegetation cover.

In light of this tragic environmental reality, there is an urgent need for broad national action. Hence, the call to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, state ministries, and the Supreme Council for the Environment is to mobilize popular efforts and contact the UN Environment Representative in Sudan to participate in a comprehensive national tree-planting campaign.

This call coincides with the autumn rainy season, which covers most parts of the country. This represents a golden opportunity to replenish lost tree resources and transform this year’s Day into an occasion to restore hope and greenery to an environment devastated by war and excessive logging.