This study was carried at northern Upper Nile State. The main objective is to study the impact of Agricultural Mechanizes Rain fed Scheme Expansion on Natural Forests and human intervention affecting natural forests in the area; it was focused on vegetation cover, distribution and density. According to the differences in woody cover which include quantity, types, density and the differences of the factors affecting them, the area was subdivided into five strata, for ease of study.§  First stratum: include the areas of agriculture schemes, (Goz Rom, Goz Fami and ElDola schemes). §  Second stratum: is the around villages areas, (El Gagier, Renk, Shomidi, Gelhak, Palouge and Melut). §  Third stratum: Charcoal and Gum production areas (around Gelhak).§  Fourth stratum: (Manpyok area in southeast Gelhak).§  Fifth stratum: (Palouge and Adar Yale area). The method of simple randomized sampling of vegetation cover was specifically directed to the wood strata. A 100 x 100m quadrates were laid at random on selected sites. Also a questionnaire was prepared for data collection and the main target groups were foresters and those who are related to natural forests, such as charcoal makers, fuel wood cutters, nomads, gum producers, farmers, wildlife officers and stockholders, 72 respondents were interviewed.The study found that there were expansion of mechanized rainfed schemes, traditional rainfed (shifting and monocropping), over grazing (cutting, lobbing and bending) of Acacia seyal, illegal cutting of Acacia seyal and other species for firewood and charcoal production, over tapping in traditional ways, setting uncontrolled fires in the natural forests. Also the study found that, there are changes in vegetation cover and trees species. Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia senegal disappeared in many areas. They have been replaced by Acacia mellifera which become a dominant species in the study area.The study recommended that to mitigate the effects of these factors and utilize natural forests in a sustainable way, the integration and coordination between sectors involve in natural resources’ planning, implementing, evaluating and utilization in the area, should be activated.

This study was carried at northern Upper Nile State. The main objective is to study the impact of Agricultural Mechanizes Rain fed Scheme Expansion on Natural Forests and human intervention affecting natural forests in the area; it was focused on vegetation cover, distribution and density. According to the differences in woody cover which include quantity, types, density and the differences of the factors affecting them, the area was subdivided into five strata, for ease of study.§  First stratum: include the areas of agriculture schemes, (Goz Rom, Goz Fami and ElDola schemes). §  Second stratum: is the around villages areas, (El Gagier, Renk, Shomidi, Gelhak, Palouge and Melut). §  Third stratum: Charcoal and Gum production areas (around Gelhak).§  Fourth stratum: (Manpyok area in southeast Gelhak).§  Fifth stratum: (Palouge and Adar Yale area). The method of simple randomized sampling of vegetation cover was specifically directed to the wood strata. A 100 x 100m quadrates were laid at random on selected sites. Also a questionnaire was prepared for data collection and the main target groups were foresters and those who are related to natural forests, such as charcoal makers, fuel wood cutters, nomads, gum producers, farmers, wildlife officers and stockholders, 72 respondents were interviewed.The study found that there were expansion of mechanized rainfed schemes, traditional rainfed (shifting and monocropping), over grazing (cutting, lobbing and bending) of Acacia seyal, illegal cutting of Acacia seyal and other species for firewood and charcoal production, over tapping in traditional ways, setting uncontrolled fires in the natural forests. Also the study found that, there are changes in vegetation cover and trees species. Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia senegal disappeared in many areas. They have been replaced by Acacia mellifera which become a dominant species in the study area.The study recommended that to mitigate the effects of these factors and utilize natural forests in a sustainable way, the integration and coordination between sectors involve in natural resources’ planning, implementing, evaluating and utilization in the area, should be activated.