About 39% of Sudan is desert and about 26% is semi-desert. High-rainfall wood savanna forms the main wildlife zone. The Nile, oases, dams, reservoirs and inland lakes support resident and migratory birds. The Red Sea coast contains mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, sharks, dugongs, turtles and seabirds. National inventories record at least 184 tree and shrub species in one baseline and 319 tree species in a separate forest inventory; Acacia seyal, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Balanites aegyptiaca are principal trees. Sudan's official Wildlife Research Centre register lists 14 protected areas, including Dinder and Radom in the savanna, Wadi Howar and Jebel Hassania in desert landscapes, Sanganeb and Dungonab in the Red Sea, and Sablouga, Tokar and Sunut Forest. Their current operational status has not been separately verified. Four Ramsar wetlands cover 3,436,009 hectares, including Dinder National Park, Dongonab Bay-Marsa Wajai, Suakin-Gulf of Agig and Khor Abu Habil Inner Delta. UNESCO recognizes Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay-Mukkawar Island Marine National Park as a serial natural World Heritage property with coral reefs, more than 300 fish species, 260 coral species, dugongs, turtles, sharks, manta rays, mangroves and seagrass. Jebel El Dair is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with 112 plant species, 220 bird species and 22 mammal and reptile species recorded in its research profile. The Ministry of Interior, Wildlife Conservation Forces, Wildlife Research Centre, Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, National Forest Corporation and Sudanese Wildlife Society have different conservation, research, forest and international-trade roles. The main legal instruments include the Wildlife and National Parks Protection Act 1986, the National Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves Regulations No. 23/1939, the Game Regulations No. 35/1935, the closed-season Order No. 112/1935, the Federal Hunting and Reserves Protection Regulations 2000 and regulations on international trade issued in 2024. Protected-area entry, seed collection, reserve creation, commercial photography, hunting, wild-animal capture, wildlife-parts collection and ownership certificates for specimens or trophies appear as formal Ministry of Interior services. Entry applications request a name, identity proof, nationality and, for foreign tourists, a passport copy, but current fees, deadlines, opening hours, transport conditions and site-specific access are not published. The Wildlife Conservation Forces have reported that hunting seasons and hunting-licence issuance for all wild animals remain completely suspended since the rebellion began, with no resumption date published. International import, export and re-export of wild animals, plants, specimens, trophies, skins and horns require Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species documentation; Sudan's computerized certificate programme was affected by the loss of an earlier database during the war, and current fees, processing times and quotas are not identified. Forest products are used mainly for plant food, fodder, firewood and charcoal, while pressures include deforestation, land degradation, habitat fragmentation, desertification, drought, climate variability, unsustainable agriculture and grazing, wildlife crime and farmer-pastoralist land-use competition. One project baseline estimated forest-cover degradation at about 2.4% per year. Dinder also faces reported illegal fires, poaching and honey collection. The Wildlife Research Centre offers short training courses, and Dinder's seed bank collects threatened-tree seeds for researchers and environmental students. Public nature tourism and commercial photography have formal service categories, but current visitor tariffs, booking calendars, guide requirements and access conditions remain unverified.
Nature in Sudan
Sudan's nature includes desert and semi-desert, high-rainfall wood savanna, the Nile and oases, and Red Sea mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs and coastal waters. Protected areas conserve wildlife, wetlands and marine habitats, while forests and rangelands support food, fodder, fuel and grazing. Conservation is governed by national wildlife and forest institutions, but access and hunting services are currently affected by the conflict.
Tip
Treat any visit, research activity, photography project or collection plan in Sudan as conditional until the responsible authority confirms that the site is operating and accessible. Choose the activity first, obtain the matching authorization, and keep written confirmation of access conditions because published fees, schedules, transport rules and site status are incomplete. Do not plan recreational hunting while the reported suspension remains in force, and do not move wildlife specimens or trophies across borders without the required CITES documentation.