<p class="MsoNormal">The Sudd wetland is one of the most unique and valuable ecosystems on Earth. It is the largest wetland in Africa, and a designated a Ramsar site. The Sudd wetlands are of critical importance to South Sudan and the wider region through two competing factors â€" the value of the oil deposits below them, and the important ecosystem services they currently provide.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Sudd is an important environmental resource that supports large populations of wildlife (including endangered and endemic species) rich and abundant fish populations, and around 1 million people whose engage in agriculture, fishing and livestock husbandry for livelihoods. The Suud is also pivotal in regulating the weather patterns in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the greater East Africa region and acts as a barrier to the southward encroachment of the Sahara desert, and in controlling the hydrology of the White and Main Niles. Due to decades of conflict in South Sudan, very little research has been undertaken on the Sudd, hence information to support its management is scanty. The region is suffering from impacts of climate change, which manifest as increasing frequency of extreme high inflows and rainfall, leading to cycles of expansion and contraction of the Sudd. An economic valuation study put the value of the Sudd at $3.3 billion based primarily to the climatic regulation, flood control and biodiversity services, but also through provisioning services including livestock grazing and watering, fishing, and papyrus crafts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project identification was done in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Sudd wetland is one of the most unique and valuable ecosystems on Earth. It is the largest wetland in Africa, and a designated a Ramsar site. The Sudd wetlands are of critical importance to South Sudan and the wider region through two competing factors â€" the value of the oil deposits below them, and the important ecosystem services they currently provide.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Sudd is an important environmental resource that supports large populations of wildlife (including endangered and endemic species) rich and abundant fish populations, and around 1 million people whose engage in agriculture, fishing and livestock husbandry for livelihoods. The Suud is also pivotal in regulating the weather patterns in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the greater East Africa region and acts as a barrier to the southward encroachment of the Sahara desert, and in controlling the hydrology of the White and Main Niles. Due to decades of conflict in South Sudan, very little research has been undertaken on the Sudd, hence information to support its management is scanty. The region is suffering from impacts of climate change, which manifest as increasing frequency of extreme high inflows and rainfall, leading to cycles of expansion and contraction of the Sudd. An economic valuation study put the value of the Sudd at $3.3 billion based primarily to the climatic regulation, flood control and biodiversity services, but also through provisioning services including livestock grazing and watering, fishing, and papyrus crafts.</p>
<p>It is intended for the identification and preparation of investment projects in the Sudd across multiple sectors (water supply and sanitation, irrigation, fisheries and aquaculture, livestock husbandry, ecosystem conservation, climate change and adaptation, etc.) </p>