The Nihal European University in Sudan

This institute should encourage research and education on the environment in its relationships and links with humanity. It will gain strength through the cooperation of co-workers and students at the university. Their highly diverse field competences and approaches should be utilized in order to solve environmental problems. This cooperation is necessary because the most grave environmental problems are frequently highly complex, requiring the cooperation of members of the entire university. Through the linkage of students and practitioners at the Nihal European University in Sudan the quality of the scientific work on environmental problems will be enhanced.

The Institute wishes to make it possible for future graduates to have a comprehensive interdisciplinary training in order to make a lasting contribution to environmental protection. Through events such as lectures, symposia and public readings the Institute will give all interested parties the possibility of learning more about the environment and its attendant problems.

It will also be a goal of this institute to contribute to the sensible managing of resources. Because Sudan is one of the oil-producing countries, this topic is of particular importance. The oil deposits in Sudan and on earth more generally are limited, as are other fossil fuels such as coal and gas. In order to reduce dependence on oil the Institute will promote the research and development of renewable sources of energy. Thus projects on solar energy could emerge in cooperation with companies and other universities.

Since 35% of GDP in Sudan is in agriculture, it is also necessary that the Institute occupy itself with the necessary resources for this. Resources such as “soil” and “water” are clearly of decisive significance; both resources are closely linked to one another. Soil erosion is the condition of increasing sedimentation in dams and rivers as well as a heightened risk of flooding of rivers and estuaries. In Sudan for example the water reserves of the Roseieres dam – which provides 80% of the energy of the country – decreased by 30% in the last thirty years due to sedimentation of the Blue Nile.

The continuing spread of deserts throughout Sudan must also be halted since it renders soil useless which in turn is disadvantageous for industry. A valuable project would be planting orchards in the region of Khartoum since deforestation of the area contributes to the formation of deserts. In addition this would assist the inhabitants of Khartoum. For there are no or hardly no trees in a radius of 90 km around Khartoum, making it difficult for the population to obtain wood for burning.

In the Institute for Environmental and Resource Management the following areas, which could also overlap, should be treated:

• Climate:
  Here the consequences of the greenhouse effect for Sudan and the rest of the Earth should be researched, with strategies for solutions to be developed as well.
• Ecology and Biodiversity:
  This area should deal with the animal and plant diversity of Sudan. The goal is to protect biodiversity and maintain it for future generations. Thus the protection of the addax (the desert antelope) or of the gerbil could be part of work in this area.
• Energy Resources:
  The goal here is to find ways to utilize existing energy resources as efficiently as possible and to develop strategies for securing the energy supplies of the Sudan in a sustainable and environmental friendly manner.
• Politics, Society and Environment
  In this area the possibilities for politics and society to protect the environment should be explored. In particular the focus should be upon the difficult balancing act between business and the environment. Sudan is a developing country and is thus interested in advancing the economy and decreasing debt. This institute endeavours to guarantee that the sustainability and protection of the environment are also considered in this process.