This study was conducted in the AL Sabaloga area. The main objective of this study was to identify the flora in the Al Sabaloga area. The objective of this study is to investigate of the Status of Range Plants Genetic in Al Sabaloga area. A total sample size of 131 was chosen randomly to collect primary data. The data were coded, summarized, tabulated and processed. Analysis was conducted using (SPSS) computer program. The results were presented in the form of a frequency distribution. The results of this are increase trees (96.2%). Shrubs (93.9%), herbs (86.3%), climber (72.5%), increase trees, herbs and climber (80.9%) and poor vegetation (45.8%).

Keywords: flora, poor vegetation, conservation reserve and sustainable development

Sudan is about 1,882,000 km². The human population is 42.2 million.¹ AL Sabaloga Reserve declared in 1946 with a total area of 116000 hectares. It lies on the western bank of River Nile, at the 6th cataract, about 150 km. From Khartoum, the Capital of Sudan. It is located in the semi-arid climatic zone at latitude N31- 17 and E 33- 16 and longitude. The topography is hilly with undulated valleys. The valleys covered with scattered Acacia’s species in addition to dense seasonal grasses during the raining season. The rainy season begins in July this period normally lasts until the end of September. The dry season begins in December lasting until May.

Al Sabaloga was declared a Game Reserve in 1946, because it is inhabited by an endangered species; Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). As a matter of fact the Al Sabaloka game reserve is proposed a Biosphere Reserve. The Biosphere Reserve concept, of the UNESCO MAB Programme, calls upon wise conservation and sustainable development of all natural resources and the integration of local communities’ participation in conservation activities and management plans of the reserve. The conservation and protection activities for wild animals and their habitats in Al Sabaloga through the integration approach of the management of natural resources and involvement of local communities is strongly recommended. Therefore the assessment of the natural resources (specifically plant genetic resources) and their utilization by the local communities is among the goals towards the proper management. The main objective of this study was to identify the flora in the Al Sabaloga area.

A survey was conducted in the Al Sabaloga area in 2017. A total sample size of 131 was chosen randomly to collect primary data.

Natural vegetation

Direct observations and primary surveying were used to assess environmental conditions and plant community type.

Sample collection

Plant specimens were collected from different sites of the study area at different times. The collection procedure followed the methods described. The whole plant was collected in the case of herbs and twigs with leaves and flowers and /or fruits in case of shrubs and trees. 

Preparation of specimens

The specimens collected were stretched to dry between newspapers and firmly pressed inside a herbarium press. Newspapers were continuously changed during drying to avoid rottening of material. Specimens were identified and verified using keys in the taxonomic references, namely: Broun et al.,² Andrews^3–5 and Elamin.⁶ The specimens were mounted, labeled and deposited at the herbarium of the Environmental and Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute (ENRDRI), National Centre for Research (NCR), Khartoum. Field observations were recorded including, habit, habitat, distribution and colors of flowers during the collection trips. In the herbarium further classification analysis and /or identification were carried out initially by examining the various parts of the specimens collected using a hand-lens. Fine floral characters were examined under Mbc-10 dissection microscope. A preliminary species identification was carried out using a set of keys,^3–5 Hutchinson et al.,⁷ and Braun et al.,⁸ Specimens were matched with identified and authenticated herbarium specimens in the herbarium of ENRDRI and the Herbarium catalogue of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (http: //apps. kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do) for confirmation. The synonyms of the identified species were extracted from many references.^6,7,9–12

Updating of plant names was taken into account according to recent literature namely: http://www.theplantlist.org/ and Herbarium catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do). The list of clades and orders covered in this study was arranged according to the Linear Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (LAPG) III while subfamilies, genera and species are arranged alphabetically.

The vernacular names of species were recorded from local inhabitants within the study area and also extracted from Broun et al.,² Andrews,¹⁴ for citation of species only the oldest reference cited was (Sp. Pl. in most cases), in addition to Andrews.^3–5

Economic uses given were compiled from local people and available literature. The life-forms of plants were formulated according to Raunkiaer.¹⁵ 

Plant diversity measurements

Three study sites were selected to represent the structure and composition of plants within each area. The area occupied by natural vegetation was measured using a quadrate and the line transect methods. In order to characterize soil cover, water and landscape vegetation, 50m line transects and 1m² quadrate (N = 3) were used. The quadrate was replicated three times (N= 9). Measurements and collections were carried out in two different seasons: the end of winter in March and in the end of the rainy season in October.

Plant samples were collected for species identification and for estimating the diversity of each sample site. Along each transect, percentage cover of bare ground, grass, and dry plants (litter) were measured in every quadrate. 

Data analysis

The questionnaire was coded and then analyzed SPSS software. The Chi-square test was used for testing the significant differences between the respondents. Descriptive statistics were also used to present to present the data.

Vegetation changes are attracting the attention of environmentalists and socio-economists. Such changes have been occurring rapidly, especially in developing countries, and their influence on environmental conditions may be as large as the effect of climatic change.¹⁶ The distribution of the vegetation in the years 1972 -2000 differ from described by Harrison et al.¹⁷ The difference may be due to the drought that prevailed in the area. Beside this factor the uses of plant resources by man as fodder (Cyndon dactylon- Faidherbia albida), fire wood (Acacia tortilis –Acacia seyal), medicine (Senna alexandrina-Ricinus comunis)…etc. Without management this may affect the plant diversity.

About (131) questioners were collected in especial target groups in the age from 45 to 65 ages. The result in Table 1 shows that about (72.5%) of the respondents in the surveyed sample were male while (27.5%) female. Figure 1 shows about (40%) of respondent are primary, secondary (32%), Kahlwa (18%) and illiterate (9%). According to Figure 2 shows the distribution of respondents according to occupation about (48.9%) farmer and herders (21.4%). According to Table 2 show (96.2%) of respondent said increase trees such as Acacia seyal var seyal, Acacia nilotica sub sp nilotica, Memosa pigra L, Prosopis chilensis Molina, Parkinsonia aculeate L, Acacia tortilis sub sp raddiana, Faidherbia albida Del, Prosopis chilensis Molina, Balanites eagyptiaca Del. Most of respondent (93.9%) said increase shrubs for instance Sesbania sesban L, Sesbania Arabica, Ziziphus spina Christi L, Ricinus communis L, Salix muriellii Sakan, Calotropis procera Ait, Solanum unqniculatum Rich, Pilocespalus acacia Zucc, Capparis dicedua , Calotropis procera Ait, Solanum unqniculatum Rich, Salvadora persica. Also about (86.3%) of respondent said increase herbs for example Senna alexandrina, Senna italic, Cypreus rotundus, Cypreus bubosus, Boerhavia repens, Fagonia cretica L, Euphorbia egyptiaca, Cyndon dactylon, Cleome gynandra, Tribulus terrestris, Cypreus conglomerates Rottb, Laptadenia oblongfolia, Sida alba, Trianthema portlacastrum, Cucumis prophetaraum L, Corchorus oritalis, Abutlion pannosum, Cardiosremum corundum L, Helotripum saponium, Phragmites austarales, Desmostachya bipinnat L, Targus berteronianus, Aerva javanica, Panicum turgidum, Beliphrus persca Bum, Boerhavia repens, Cirtullus conocynthus L and Abutlion pannosum. (Tables 3–5).

Figure 1 Distribution of respondents according to level of education.

Figure 2 Distribution of respondents according to occupation.

The range floristic in this region represented in trees, shrubs and herbs. It could conserve and protect from deterioration by several reasons like climate change and human activities.

None.

The author declares there are no conflicts of interest.

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