Contribution of non-wood forest products for household income in rural area of Sudan – A review

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) constitute a vital sources of household income for millions of people worldwide. This review paper focuses on NWFPs in Sudan aiming to elucidate their contribution across different region. It also examines key tree species that underpin rural and urban income, along with their applications. The study involves an analysis of published papers on NWFPs from 1994 to 2023. Findings indicate that NWFPs contribute over 50% to Sudanese household income, with variation tied to local species diversity. Intriguingly, NWFPs exhibit a higher significance for impoverished livelihoods. Notably, marketable fruits like Ziziphus spina-christi, Balanites aegyptiaca, Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica, and Grewia tenax feature prominently in rural income generation. Nonetheless, several species, pivotal to household income, are alarmingly classified as endangered by IUCN. While more than ten tree species cater to local subsistence, only a fraction enter international trade. To enhance household income, it is recommended that sustainable harvesting and value addition practices be taught to rural communities. [Display omitted] •Contribution of NWFPs to HH economy of Sudan was examined from 1994 to 2003.•NWFPs contributed more than 50% to the HH economy.•Most important fruit tree species were Ziziphus spina-christi, Balanites aegyptiaca, Adansonia digitate, Tamarindus indica, and Grewia tenax.•Sustainable harvesting and processing of various NWFPs can enhance rural HH economy.