202 Scarcity and Surfeit
Sudan has not yet developed a national master water plan to rationalise
the use and management of water in the Sudan. Failure to do so may mani-
fest itself through acute water shortages and rising conflicts among compet-
ing water users.
Environmental Management
Formal environmental management in Sudan was initiated during the British-
Egyptian condominium rule. The British Rule from 1898-1956 protected, con-
trolled and managed the environment, establishing rules and policies to con-
serve wildlife, guard against over-fishing, destruction of forests, savanna and
swamp environments that provided habitat to wildlife. The British also estab-
lished game parks and game reserves. However, Mayak notes that environ-
mental management declined in post-independence Sudan.
Environmental management and awareness increased after the Stockholm
Conference in 1972. Several units were established within key ministries to
manage various aspects of the environment, such as the Forestry Depart-
ment, Pastures Department, Land Use Committee, Natural Resource Commis-
sion and Water Resources Administration. Various development strategies
and programmes were adopted in post-independence Sudan but did not fully
address the issue of environment and natural resource management. The
Economic Recovery Programme (1978-1985) supported by the World Bank
under Jaffar Numeiri created an over-regulated economy that in effect
reduced production under state-owned large-scale production systems.
A comprehensive approach to the management of the environment was
initiated in 1986 at the National Economic Conference and adopted in the
Four Year Economic Salvation Programme (1988-1991) under Sadiq A1 Mahdi
which initiated economic liberalisation in the Sudan. However, the pro-
gramme stalled following the coup in 1989.
The Three Year National Economic Salvation Programme was adopted by
the National Islamic Front (NIF) Government with the assistance of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a medium-term measure to reactivate
the economy and create an environment for external investment and foreign
aid. The current National Comprehensive Strategy (1992-2002) adopted a
comprehensive long-term liberalisation policy. It established a High Council
for the Environment and Natural Resources, headed by the president of the
republic, to set policies and plan for the management of the environment and
coordinate efforts by different agencies towards this effort. Of the 26 states of
the federation in Sudan, 10 have established state councils for the manage-
ment of the environment headed by the state governors or Walis. In 1995, a
Ministry of Environment and Tourism was established supported by the High
Council for Environment as its technical arm. In March 2000, an Emergency
Fnvimmmt Art containing orovisions for the protection of the environment