Saeed Mosmar Alawad, Saeed 
It is worth mentioning that the rate of the erosion rate varies with the infiltration capacity of the soil, the vegetation 
cover as well as topographic features. 
The results of the performed study showed the tremendous land degradation and environmental changes occur in 
Gedaref Region. 
It is evident that the transformation of the natural vegetal cover and introduction of semi mechanization, land use 
practices and woody material harvesting is the main factors led to stake up the normal changes that could occurs. 
According to the interpretation of the multi-temporal remotely sensed data the observed changes started in early 
seventies of this century a time span that coincides with Sudan strategy for horizontal increases in agricultural 
investment and the invasion of the draught period over the Sahelin zone. 
The sensed data provide repetitive coverage over large areas permitting capability in mapping land resources and 
assessing land degradation. The information provided is so important and essential since any strategy for sustainability 
in the region should consider the past ecological condition. 
7, Conclusion 
The outcome of the performed study present the following conclusions: 
l. The Gedaref Region once it was one of the richest natural resources base area of the Sudan suffer from the spread 
of the semi mechanized farming (large areas has been cleared off its natural vegetation cover to facilitate tractors 
ploughing) wood cutting for commercial and domestic purposes. 
2. The spread of the mechanization and deforestation is at the expenses of the other land resources e.g. pasture, forest, 
indigenous small-scale rainfed cultivation, game reserved area etc. 
3. It seen pertinent to assume that the environmental changes are the consequences of the radical changes in the 
vegetal cover since deforestation enhanced soil degradation and increases of the surface runoff and erosion 
processes. 
4. The application of the remotely sensed data cartography methodology for land resources mapping and monitoring 
has demonstrated a number of points; 
a. Sensed data used provide smart and powerful tools and means for land resources mapping and monitoring and 
generating of efficiently reliable fast and useful information for sustainability. 
b. Multi temporal remotely sensed data analysis is mostly powerful in detecting the dynamic processes of land 
resources and changes that occurs over time. 
c. Major land use/land cover at level 1 and 11 can be separated easily using landsat images. 
d. The 1973 data provide biological conditions that exist in the area before the period of draught and the spread of 
mechanization in the region that can help in understanding and putting the clock back. 
5. The simple methods used for mapping and monitoring land resources within the various constrains in developing 
countries (Sudan) where sophisticated technological support is not at hand it is thus possible to produce thematic maps 
for sustainability. 
Therefore remotely sensed data can best be adopted to fit the land resources inventory and mapping in the developing 
countries where bad economic situation existing, sophisticated technologies are expensive, technologies know how is 
lacking, equipment are badly used, base line information are scarce if not totally existed etc. 
References 
Al Awad, S. M., 1991. Land use/land cover practices, changes and consequences. Gedaref Region, Eastern Sudan. 
Unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan. 
Ali, M. A., 1973. Key for the identification of soils in Eastern Sudan. Kassala Province. Soil Survey Administration, 
Wad Medani, Sudan. 
Harrison, M. N., Jackson, J. K., 1958. Ecological classification of the vegetation of the Sudan. Forest bulletin no 2, 
forest Department, Khartoum, Sudan. 
Hudson, N., 1986. Soil conservation. BT Batsford Limited, London, 324 p. 
  
  
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7. Amsterdam 2000. 1299