Khartoum - Sudanese Minister for Environment Hassan Hilal has said that the World Bank has supplied estimated $7.6USD million as initial amount to fund a green belt project, with the amount will be raised to $77USD million. Sudan will take part in green belt summit in Chad scheduled for early April. 

The green belt project was approved during Sahel and Sahara summit in 2005. The project is aimed at preventing desertification in the region located between the Senegalese capital Dakar to the west and down to Djibouti to the east. 

 

The Sudanese minister for environment explained that the idea is to plant 7500km long and 25km wide belt of trees. 

Sudan is regarded as the biggest country through which 1520km long belt will pass.

Hilal said the forthcoming summit comes at the right time considering urgent environmental issues. He said the project is vitally important for his country because it will contribute to protecting the belt of gum Arabic and rehabilitation of natural forests and pastures; in addition increasing areas of forestations in deteriorated areas to prevent and minimize the effects of desertification. 

The Minister called for redoubling efforts and mobilizing experts, academics, researchers and technicians to counter these urgent issues.