South Sudan’s Natural Heritage and the Threat of Climate Change

Climate Resilience Initiative for South Sudan (CRISS) “Domesticating President Salva Kiir’s Climate legacy and his Government commitment”.

South Sudan is rich in biodiversity and natural resources, with vast wetlands, golden savannas, and dense forests. Its most iconic treasure is the Sudd, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world. However, these fragile ecosystems are under siege. Climate change, along with human actions, is slowly destroying them.​Extreme weather is throwing nature’s balance into chaos. Floods drown habitats, and droughts dry up wetlands. The floods from 2019–2023 swallowed huge parts of the Sudd, forcing thousands of people from their homes and wiping out livestock. Rising heat and vanishing water are pushing species like the Nile crocodile, hippos, and migratory birds to the edge of survival.​The constant disruption to people’s lives has led to the mass cutting down of trees for survival, turning green land into dust. As water and grass disappear, conflicts erupt. Farmers, herders, and wildlife are all fighting for what little is left. Elephants, driven by thirst, are stumbling into villages, which often leads to tragic outcomes.​Yet there is still hope. With urgent action—planting resilient trees, using smarter farming methods, improving water and waste management, and healing damaged lands—South Sudan can still reclaim its natural heritage from climate change and enhance food sovereignty.​The choice is ours, and time is running out. South Sudan’s treasures—the Sudd, Boma National Park, and the very web of life that supports people and wildlife—are slipping away. Without bold steps now, the loss will be irreversible. The stakes are nothing less than survival.#biodiversitycrisis #climatechange #naturalheritage #smartagriculture #presidentsalvakiirclimatelegacy #foodsovereignty #supportagriculture #DonateNow #GCI