Environmental problems of Sudan can be summarized as follows: Recurring droughts and desertification have led to an increase in environmental consciousness. The fact that environmental issues affect all aspects of life in the country is gaining acceptance.

The basic environmental problems of Sudan are related to the absence of an acceptable strategic master land use plan, the growing conflicts in land use policies, the depletion of natural resources and the unchecked population growth (due to lack of a coherent Population Policy). 

These problems are made worse by the limited perception of the environmental issues as well as the total neglect for the impacts of agricultural policies. The adoption of ?modernization? in agriculture (which is actually not modernization but horizontal expansion in agricultural practices with very little vertical direction) has become an instrument of interference in the traditional sector and takes away from its resources the lands, forests, ranges, pastures and wildlife. 

A listing of environmental problems include: 

* horizontal expansion in rain-fed and irrigated agriculture.  

* the complete absence of the environmental dimensions in policies, strategies, plans and programs of management of resources.  

* development is random and environmental evaluation does exist before or after execution of projects.)  

* the economy and society, in spite of the century-long attempts at ?modernization? are still dominated by subsistence way of living.  

* the economy is still affected seriously by the yearly, seasonal and geographical variability of rainfall for crop and livestock production.  

* dependence on imported seeds and agricultural chemicals has increased cost of production.  

* loss of land productivity and marketing policies decreased cash surplus. 

* the civil war in the South has grave economic and social costs.  

* population distribution and rural-urban migration due to desertification and civil strife has led to deterioration of natural resources, indigenous knowledge and loss of local culture and dignity.  

* problems of poor sanitation, limited industrial pollution and food hygiene have become more complex.  

* the energy crisis is aggravating desertification and affecting climate charge.  

* vast water resources are badly managed.  

* environmental education has only been recently incorporated in school curricula, and laws and legislation concerning the environment are not effective and law enforcement measures are not integrated.