Khartoum: The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Protected Areas System Strengthening Project and Integrated Ecosystem Management in Sudan was held on Wednesday at the UNDP hall in Khartoum under the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, with the participation of all relevant governmental institutions, agencies, and organizations, as well as representatives of Red Sea, Al-Gadarif, Sennar, and Blue Nile states.
According to Sudan News Agency, the Board approved the 2026 work plan of the project, with observations and additions aimed at improving performance and strengthening coordination among institutions to ensure integrated roles. The Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Environment, Suleiman Al-Boni Suleiman, affirmed the Council's commitment to involving all relevant governmental and voluntary institutions in environmental projects, considering the environment a shared responsibility.
The UNDP Resident Deputy Representative, Ms. Soraya Wu, reaffirmed the programme's support for environmental projects in Sudan and called for implementation of plans according to the set timeline, stressing commitment to funding these projects. The Director of Projects at the Council, Dr. Nadia Hassan Omar, highlighted the importance of the meeting to review achievements and challenges and present the project's current work plan.
The Project Director, Lt. Gen. (Police) Abdul-Hafiz Al-Jak, presented a report on activities over the past three months and upcoming work for the remaining 18-month project period, calling for acceleration of implementation of planned activities, including awareness workshops for farmers in Al-Gadarif, Sennar, and Blue Nile states, as well as supporting revolving funds to increase community income around protected areas to prevent encroachment. He noted that the project established two ice factories in Dongonab locality in Red Sea State to preserve fish after catching, in addition to planting 3,000 mango seedlings in the area.
Participants also called for capacity building of local communities in mediation and conflict resolution to enhance awareness of the importance of protected areas and their proper management.