Sudan Moves to Protect Rich Wildlife Heritage as Conservation Efforts Gain New Focus

 By Gedion Nzyoki -

Nairobi, Kenya | September 9, 2026 — Sudan is seeking to strengthen the protection and management of its rich wildlife heritage, with a renewed focus on improving institutional capacity, increasing participation in international conservation programmes, attracting investment and promoting sustainable tourism.

Sudan’s wildlife conservation stakeholders, led by Ambassador Kamal Gubara and Dr. Leila Osman, pose for a group photo during a wildlife conservation workshop at the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi. Photo: Elijah Odanga.

The county’s wildlife conservation priorities were highlighted on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, during a workshop on the current situation of wildlife in Sudan held at the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan on Kabarnet Road, off Ngong Road, in Nairobi.

The workshop was chaired and presided over by Ambassador Kamal Gubara, Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan, while Dr. Leila Osman, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs and Organizations at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Wildlife, presented an overview of Sudan’s wildlife resources, protected areas and the challenges facing the conservation sector.

Speaking during a press briefing, Dr. Osman identified weak follow-up and representation in international wildlife agreements and programmes as one of the key challenges affecting Sudan’s ability to maximise opportunities in conservation.

She noted that Sudan often participates at the final stages of programmes, limiting its contribution from the outset and reducing the benefits the country can derive from international cooperation.

Dr. Osman also pointed to limited institutional capacity, noting that environmental programmes require consistent and specialised support to achieve sustainable results.

She further identified investment barriers as another area requiring attention, calling for stronger partnerships and professionally prepared technical proposals capable of attracting international support and investment into wildlife projects.

"Environmental files require full-time patient support. Currently, there is insufficient civil and institutional support, which weaken our benefit from international organization," Leila Osman said.

Urban Wildlife Education Centres Proposed

As part of efforts to bring conservation closer to the public, Dr. Osman highlighted plans to establish urban wildlife education centres in national schools across 10 major cities.

The proposed centres would educate urban populations about Sudan’s wildlife while creating opportunities for schools and universities to participate in conservation activities.

They could also generate revenue, serve as tourist attractions and encourage citizens to visit national parks and other protected areas.

The initiative is expected to create spaces for recreation, attract foreign tourists and provide opportunities for partnerships with international organisations and private companies, including renewable energy firms.

Dr. Osman also called for technical papers on conservation projects to be finalised in professional formats, incorporating photographs and data to strengthen Sudan’s presentations and improve engagement with international partners.

Why Kenya Was Selected for Conservation Workshop

Ambassador Kamal Gubara said Kenya was selected to host the workshop because the country is home to several international organisations and conservation bodies that could provide valuable support and expertise to Sudan.

He added that Kenya’s experience in wildlife conservation and protected-area management offered important lessons that Sudan could draw from as it seeks to strengthen its wildlife sector.

 Sudan Ambassador Kamal Gubara during a wildlife conservation workshop held at the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi. Photo: Elijah Odanga.

Sudan’s Protected Areas Span Diverse Ecosystems

Sudan’s wildlife heritage stretches across a wide range of ecosystems, including savannahs, forests, deserts, wetlands and the coral-rich waters of the Red Sea.

Among the country’s best-known protected areas is the Dinder Federal Reserve, located in southeastern Sudan along the Ethiopian border. The reserve is recognised for its rich biodiversity, diverse forest vegetation and populations of birds and wild animals. It was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1979.

The Radom Federal Reserve, in southwestern Sudan along the border with the Central African Republic, features bushland, savannah grasslands and scattered forests. Its wildlife includes gazelles, monkeys, wild boars, ostriches, tortoises, hyenas, lions and leopards, as well as resident and migratory birds. Radom was placed on Sudan’s UNESCO Tentative List in 2021 and is also part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Other important protected areas include the Wadi Howar Reserve, Jebel Hassania Federal Reserve and Jebel Dair Federal Reserve, which together represent Sudan’s desert, semi-desert and mountain ecosystems.

Wadi Howar, south of the Sahara, is notable for its diverse vegetation, geological formations and ancient lakes. It supports species such as dorcas gazelles, Barbary sheep and ostriches and also has significant archaeological and geological value.

Jebel Hassania in River Nile State comprises arid plains, sand dunes, valleys, hills and mountains and provides habitat for gazelles, Barbary sheep, wild rabbits, foxes, hyenas and other desert species.

Jebel Dair, in North Kordofan State, features elevated slopes, peaks, valleys, streams and plains and was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2017.

Red Sea Reserves Offer Major Conservation and Tourism Potential

Sudan’s protected-area network extends into the Red Sea through the Sanganeb Federal Marine Reserve and the Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island Reserve.

Sanganeb consists of isolated coral reefs, while Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island feature coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, beaches and small islands.

The marine reserves provide habitats for seabirds, marine mammals, fish, sharks, turtles and manta rays. Dungonab Bay is particularly important for dugongs, with the area supporting populations regarded among the largest and most significant in the world.

The two reserves were jointly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a natural World Heritage Site in 2016 in recognition of their exceptional marine biodiversity.

Protected Areas Also Hold Tourism and Cultural Value

Sudan’s conservation network also includes the Al-Ghazali Federal Reserve in the Bayuda Desert near Merowe, Northern State. The area combines ecological and archaeological attractions, including the historic Al-Ghazali Monastery.

A field survey conducted by the Wildlife Research Centre in 2014 assessed the area’s biodiversity and natural resources. The reserve supports dorcas gazelles, foxes and smaller mammals.

The Taya–Banda–Gallabat Reserve in Gedaref State is another important protected area, supporting gazelles, wild cats, monkeys, francolins and reptiles.

Sudan also has several reserved areas established to protect specific species and habitats, including Tokar, Sinkat, Sabaloka and Arkwit. The Khartoum Bird Sanctuary, also known as Al-Sunut Forest, was established in 1939 to protect resident and migratory waterbirds.

Four Ramsar Sites Strengthen Wetland Protection

Sudan has four internationally recognised Ramsar wetland sites, underscoring the importance of its wetlands to biodiversity and migratory species.

Dinder National Park became Sudan’s first Ramsar site in 2005, while Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island Reserve and Suakin Bay were designated in 2009.

The Wadi Abu Habl Inland Delta became the country’s fourth Ramsar site in July 2022.

The sites provide important habitats for migratory waterbirds and support fisheries and water-resource regulation, making their continued monitoring and protection critical.

Conservation Sector Faces Multiple Pressures

Despite its extensive natural heritage, Sudan’s wildlife sector faces several longstanding environmental pressures.

Agricultural and pastoral encroachment, poaching and unlicensed hunting, tree cutting for firewood and charcoal, timber extraction and artisanal gold mining have placed increasing pressure on wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

The high commercial value of species such as houbara bustards has also contributed to pressure from illegal hunting.

Artisanal gold mining presents additional environmental concerns, particularly where mercury and cyanide can affect sensitive ecosystems and water resources.

Climate change, desertification, limited financing and inadequate technical capacity have further complicated the management of protected areas.

Sudan Seeks Stronger Regional Conservation Partnerships

The workshop highlighted opportunities for Sudan to deepen cooperation with regional and international conservation institutions.

Potential areas of cooperation include protected-area management and planning, environmental law enforcement, wildlife crime investigations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, migratory species monitoring and community-based natural-resource management.

The IUCN Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (IUCN-ESARO), based in Nairobi, was identified as a potential partner for training and protected-area management effectiveness assessments.

The CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme, which previously included Dinder Reserve as a monitoring site and used satellite technology to track elephants, was also identified as a potential avenue for renewed technical cooperation.

Regional cooperation on wildlife trafficking could further strengthen the capacity of customs and wildlife officers, prosecutors and judicial officers involved in combating illegal wildlife trade.

Sudan’s membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also provides an avenue for cooperation on environmental and climate issues, particularly around shared ecosystems, ecological corridors and migratory routes.

Investment Needed to Strengthen Conservation Infrastructure

The workshop also highlighted the need for greater investment in infrastructure and equipment required to effectively manage protected areas.

Priority areas include four-wheel-drive vehicles, radio and satellite communication equipment, GPS devices and wildlife monitoring cameras for conservation personnel.

There is also a need to rehabilitate ranger stations, field posts, roads and access tracks, while expanding the use of satellite imagery and GIS technologies.

The development of unified biodiversity databases could improve the collection, management and sharing of information on wildlife populations and protected areas.

Training in protected-area planning, management effectiveness, environmental law enforcement, wildlife crime investigations, GIS and remote sensing, as well as migratory species conservation, was also identified as critical.

Linking People, Wildlife and Sustainable Tourism

Dr. Osman emphasised the need to link conservation with human development, arguing that environmental initiatives should also create opportunities for communities, education, tourism and revenue generation.

“Integrate people and environment,” she said, stressing the importance of connecting conservation with human development.

She described Sudan as having massive ecological and tourism diversity, stretching from Jabal Marra and the Nuba Mountains to Eastern Sudan, with opportunities to combine natural attractions with archaeological and cultural heritage.

With proper planning, dedicated teams and international partnerships, Dr. Osman said wildlife conservation could become a driver of education, revenue generation and sustainable tourism.