Satellite image classification serves a critical function across various applications, from land cover mapping and urban planning to environmental monitoring and disaster management. In recent years, significant advancements in machine learning and computer vision, coupled with increased accessibility to satellite imagery, have driven considerable progress in this field. Classification techniques for satellite imagery can be primarily divided into three key approaches: automatic, manual, and hybrid. Each approach offers unique advantages but also comes with its own set of limitations. While most methodologies gravitate toward automatic techniques, choosing an appropriate method should be a carefully considered decision based on specific needs. This paper provides an exhaustive review of cutting-edge classification algorithms, including Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Classification Trees (CTs), and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). It also offers a comparative analysis between these modern methods and traditional techniques, focusing on their respective performance metrics when applied to satellite data. This study examines key factors affecting remote sensing data classification, including classifier parameter adjustments and combining multiple classifiers. It reviews existing literature to enhance feature selection and classifier optimization for better accuracy. However, it also points out the continuous need for research in image processing to improve classification accuracy.

Tropical forests are biodiversity-rich habitats on the globe because they host diversified flora and fauna species, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. The forest resources in Sudan are a vital aspect of the nation’s ecological and economic framework. However, they face threats from agriculture, logging, and degradation, leading to loss of forest cover and reduced biodiversity. This chapter reviews Sudan’s dryland forests, highlighting their importance, forest biodiversity, ecosystem services, environmental degradation, conservation challenges, biodiversity information gap, threats, and the urgent need for sustainable management strategies. It emphasizes the significance of protecting these forests to maintain ecological balance and promote socioeconomic development. Addressing these challenges requires urgent and effective conservation and management efforts to preserve these vital resources.

Environmental and land resource degradation is a serious problem that poses significant challenges in Sudan and worldwide generally. Despite the fact that the physical environment components are the underlying economic resources and production assets in developing countries like Sudan, and they directly affect the nation’s socioeconomic aspects of income, health, water availability, food security, and many others. The interventions and protective measures were insufficient to meet the magnitude and extent of the ongoing degradation and resource wastage. Based on the analysis of the indicators and trends of the environmental and natural resources management ‘status quo’, this paper is an attempt to overview and investigate the state of environmental and natural resources management and governance in Sudan. Further discussion delves into the utilization of geo-information systems in Sudan’s environmental and resource management by analyzing and reviewing “some previous case studies” where GIS approaches and techniques were deployed. The paper further strives to explore and highlight the opportunities and potential contributions of GIS in the context of Sudan’s environmental and resource management. Lessons learned from the previous experiences were considered, and the recommendations for the future use of a tailored geo-information system in Sudan context were highlighted and suggested to support better practices and sustainability insights for environmental governance and resources management.

Climate change scenarios project that several regions, especially in dryland areas of sub-Saharan Africa, will undergo increasing aridity and, subsequently, expanding land degradation. The study aims to investigate the effect of two drying treatments on establishing and growing Hashab (Acacia senegal) and Boabab (Adansonia digitata) in nursery conditions. Through a 2×2 factorial experiment, seedlings grown in a mixture of silt and sand soil (2:3) were treated by irrigation intervals of one or two liters every three days for 14 weeks to simulate rainfall fluctuation patterns. Seedling germination rate, leaf number, stem height, and diameter were measured weekly; taproot length, shoot, and root dry weights were also assessed. The results showed that neither drying treatment significantly affected A. senegal and A. digitata seedling growth parameters. However, an interaction effect was found in the height and diameter for A. senegal and shoot dry weight for A. digitata. The study concluded that A. senegal and A. digitata seem tolerant to drying treatment. Therefore, the two species are recommended for afforestation programs in areas with relatively harsher conditions. Also, exposing the seedlings of these studied species to similar, extended periods of simulated drought (e.g., 6 – 12 months) is recommended for future studies.

This study assesses tree species availability in Sinnar state, Sudan, to identify the types of wood used, marketed and explores the selection criteria driven by the continuing demand for timber in construction, furniture, and energy sources. The research included interviews with 87 randomly selected respondents from three timber trading and sawmill companies (Elsuki, Sinnar, and Singa). The surveys utilize descriptive analysis using SPSS and Excel. Findings revealed 28 historically available timber species, of which only eight are currently on the market. Selection criteria for trading species include viability, durability, and market demand. Approximately 47.9 % of timber comes from reserved forests, mainly for sawmill use, while 31.3 % comes from private and community-managed forests. The study highlights a significant decline in the availability of timber species, with 88 % of respondents expressing concerns about this trend due to overexploitation, revealing the urgent need for conservation efforts. This study suggests planting indigenous fast-growing trees to meet the region’s timber needs.