The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: Sudan

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

SUDAN/ SOUDAN / SUDÁN

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Sudan on 7 May 2005. Sudan presently has 2 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 6,784,600 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Dinder National Park (DNP). 07/01/05; Sennar State; 1,084,600 ha; 12°19'N 034°47'E. National Park, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A very large complex of about 40 wetlands, or "mayas", and pools formed by meanders and oxbows that are part of the Rahad and Dinder river drainage systems bordering the frontier with Ethiopia in southeastern Sudan. Both rivers and their tributaries, coming from the Ethiopian highlands across the flat plain of the Park, are seasonal and flow from June to November, peaking in August. The wetlands are vital as a source of water and of the most nutritious grasses for herbivores, especially during the most severe part of the dry season. A large number of animal species are supported, some of which, like the tiang Damaliscus korrigum, are endangered. Located in the center of migration routes among three continents, the site is visited by a large number of species of migratory birds, and some of the mayas contain quantities of fish throughout the dry season. Recent archaeological investigations at many locations within the park show promise of important finds from ancient Meroitic and medieval Fung sultanate periods. The local population practices agriculture and pastoralism and many are nomadic within the park during dry and rainy seasons. Illegal fires set by non-local nomadic grazers, poachers, and honey collectors are cited as among the chief threats to the site. Ramsar site no. 1461. Most recent RIS information: 2005.

Sudd. 05/06/06; Southern Sudan; 5,700,000 ha; 07°34'N 030°39'E. Includes National Park and game reserves. One of the largest tropical wetlands in the world, located in Southern Sudan in the lower reaches of Bahr el Jebel, a section of the White Nile. The site is composed of various ecosystems, from open water and submerged vegetation to floating fringe vegetation, seasonally inundated woodland, rain-fed and river-fed grasslands, and floodplain scrubland. It is an important wintering ground for birds such as Pelecanus onocrotalus, Balearica pavonina, Ciconia ciconia and Chlidonias nigra, and home to some endemic fish, birds, mammal and plant species. The wetland serves as a filter that controls water quality and a sponge that stabilizes water flow. It is the major source of water for domestic, livestock, and wildlife use and an important source of fish. The socio-economic and cultural activities of local people are dependent on its annual floods and rains to regenerate floodplain grasses to feed their cattle, as they move from permanent settlements on the highlands to dry-season grazing in the intermediate lands and return to the highlands in May-June when the rainy season starts. Threats to the site include oil exploration - Sudd contains Sudan's largest oil reserve - and the Jonglei Canal Project, which is currently on hold, but would reduce wet and dry season flows by 20 and 10% respectively, thus impacting the wetland's ecology and consequently its inhabitants. Ramsar site no. 1622. Most recent RIS information: 2006.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 18 April 2005, updated 11 July 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.