Largely as a result of its possession  of Acacia Senegal and consequent ease of Collection, Sudan is the dominant producer of GUM.   Sudan is aware that Gum Arabic is a national wealth ant that it needs to be conserved, improved and developed not only to provide a sustained yield of GUM but also for other important socioeconomic benefits of production and protection.

   Sudan is also aware of the fact that the GUM belt in a national buffer zone between the desert proper in the north and the good agricultural tall grass savanna in the south.  Therefore, any distribution or misuse in the zone will induce desertification and threaten  agricultural production. This is a matter of paramount importance not only to Sudan but probably to the world at large because this area is considered to be one of future granaries of the world. The region also support and enormous population of animal wealth.
 

    Gum Arabic is the trade name for a natural forest product of the genus Acacia and is mainly obtained from Acacia Sengal commonly known as ( Hashab ).

   The species has a wide distribution and remarkable adaptability. It is essentially a semi-arid zone species but, it so adaptable that it is not only drought resistant but also  forest hardy.It can regenerate naturally from seeds or vegetatively from coppices. The main area of its occurrence os the central part of Sudan where is species is uniform in pure stands giving Sudan the advantage of being the biggest producer and exporter of the best quality Gum Arabic, supplying 80% of the annual world requirements.