Institute full name:

Institut des Régions Arides

Institute acronym:

Institute profile:

IRA is a public research organization established in 1976. It has the mandates of carrying research, training and outreach programs on activities related to combating desertification and natural resources protection and development in the dry areas of Tunisia including soil and water conservation, erosion control, remote sensing and GIS, agronomy, biodiversity, ecology, animal husbandry and wildlife, and agro-socio-economics and development policies.    During the last decade and in collaboration with European and US partners, IRA engaged in the application and development of environmental (MUSLE, SWAT, STM2D, PATTERN) and socio-economic (FORCESMOD, LINDO, SIEL) modelling for natural resources management and desertification mitigation in the dry areas. IRA is the focal point of the ROSELT network and an excellency centre on drylands studies for the United Nationa University (UNU).

Website

www.ira.rnrt.tn

Address

IRA – Route de Jorf
4119 Medenine
Tunisia

Institute logo

Institute image

Involved personnel

Name	Contact details	Key qualifications	Photo
Dr. Mohamed OUESSAR	Phone: +216-75-633005 Fax: +216-75-633006 Email: Ouessar.Mohamed@ira.rnrt.tn Alter: Ouessar@yahoo.com	Water harvesting, watershed management, with special interest in GIS based modeling of the interaction between land use and hydrology, and effects of soil erosion and desertification
Prof Houcine KHATTELI	Phone: +216-75-633005/121 Fax: +216-75-633006 Email: H.Khatteli@ira.rnrt.tn	Physical geographer, expert in wind erosion dynamics, sand dune stabilization, combating desertification.

{mosgmap mapid=28|height=350px|zoomtype=small|showmaptype=true}

This site is located between the Jeffara plain and Matmata mountains which are considered among the main socio-agro-ecological zones of the country where the problems of land degradation and desertification are active (NAP, 1998). However, many projects and experiences have been launched in the site at all levels: research, development, environment, etc.

In this region, the traditional production systems combined a concentration of production means on limited areas and the extensive exploitation of pastoral resources in the major zone. However, during the last forty years, rapid and remarkable evolutions of these production systems and natural resource exploitation increased with the exploitation of groundwater aquifers by drillings, for the development of irrigated crops and industry, and fast extension of fruit trees orchards at the expense of natural grazing lands after the privatization of collective tribal lands. In this context, the spatial agrarian system complementarily disappeared and replaced with other interconnected and adjacent production systems. Those systems are marked by a competition for the access to the natural resources, especially for land ownership and water use (Jeffara, 2001; Sghaier et al., 2003). Huge works for soil and water conservation and rangelands rehabilitation have been implemented since the independence whose immediate effects are visible but their efficiency on the short and long terms has not yet been assessed and evaluated in details.

In addition, many research for development projects, funded by national and international organizations, undertaken by IRA and its partners have been implemented in the region: Parcours Sud (1990-1994), WAHIA (1998-2002), MEDRATE (2000-2003), JEFFARA (2001-2004), SUMAMAD (2004-2007) DESURVEY (2005-20009).

More details ... read the full study site description and an overview of all sites
	Read the full study site description
»Comparative overview of all study sites

Added value of DESIRE for stakeholders
Involvement in testing one or more methodologies.

Study site stakeholder workshops
3 days of workshop organized in dialogue with the governor of Médenine where were present about ten researchers of the IRA, 2 NGOs (AJZ + APB) and a technician of the CRDA (service of the state). This small group visited 2 farmers on 2 different sites. Then the last day the farmers and the other participants (farmers, person in charge of association) were invited to elaborate an assessment.  

Limitations for spontaneous implementation of soil and water conservation practices
Problems of workforce to maintain the building after constructions. The young peoples leave this territory to join cities.

Stakeholder groups
National level

• The focal UNCCD point at the Ministry of Environment and sustainable development
• Ministry of Agriculture and water resources and particularly the divisions of Soil and water conservation, forestry, water resources
• Ministry of Development
• Research institutions: INRAT, INGREF, IO
• National farmer union (UTAP)
• Grazing and livestock breeding agency (OEP)
• Outreach and agricultural extension agency (AVFA)
• Universities: IRESA, University of Tunis, University of Gabès

Regional/local level

• Province council and particularly the regional commission for combating desertification
• Regional directorate of the environment (south east)
• Schools (primary and secondary)

Sustainability goals

Source: expert estimate, study site leaders and national policy plans.

More details ...

»Stakeholders & their sustainability goals - overview

To help understand this complex picture it can be helpful to think in terms the dominant socio-economic and environmental forces that are driving the process of land degradation. These place pressures on the land which have particular impacts. Human society may have already made responses to those impacts, or may have knowledge about how they could respond. Decisions about which responses to make may also be governed by a range of international, national or local policy regulations and agreements.

In the Zeuss Koutine study site, the same stakeholder workshop and questionnaires that were used to identify existing and potential response strategies (»Identifying strategies: Stakeholder workshop 1) also discussed and identified these driving forces; pressures; impacts; and the policy and regulation environment. This information was then used to inform the choice of »Field experiments, the scenarios used in »Simulated biophysical impact of remediation strategies and their financial viability, and context for the study site-specific »Policy brief recommendations.

Select map type

Land use: type Land use: trends Land use: intensity trend Degradation: type Degradation: extent Degradation: degree Degradation: rate Land conservation: groups Land conservation: extent Land conservation: measures Land conservation: effectiveness Land conservation: effectiveness trends

Comments

Map version: 4Oct11

Introduction

The Zeuss Koutine area in Tunisia suffers from over exploitation of the aquifers, and extension of orchard cultivation at the expense of natural grazing lands. Severe long drought periods reduce soil water content to levels where olive plantation can suffer enormously. Traditional water harvesting techniques (Jessour and Tabias) are used for the improvement of water content of soil. Replenishment of groundwater aquifers are ensured through the recharge structures (gabion check dams and recharge wells). However, current cropping levels versus water availability may not be sustainable. The experiments are geared towards monitoring water levels, as the water harvesting techniques are well established. Moreover, ever since the ground water has been exploited by means of drilling a lot of pastoral land was converted into irrigated cropland or orchard. This has increased the pressure on the remaining land causing over grazing and associated soil erosion problem. An experiment was carried out to improve plant cover and biodiversity in the grazing areas aiming at minimizing land degradation.

Desertification indices
The two desertification risk indices investigated here are soil erosion, water stress and overgrazing. Soil erosion is not a problem on the fields where the technologies are tested but occurs elsewhere in the area. In the first area the calculations do not make much sense. The soil erosion risk is calculated as moderate (3.2) while the precipitation is very low (although the seasonality is high), there is terracing so the slope angle is < 2%, the soils are well drained soils and there is efficient runoff capture. On the other hand the water stress risk is indicated as no risk (0.99), but for this index the rainfall amount is not included, only the seasonality! The amount of rain does not seem to play a role with water stress in the system. Water harvesting techniques are not included, unless this decreases groundwater use in which case the water stress risk remains at a “no risk” level. In the south of the area heavy grazing takes place and the overgrazing risk is classified as low (2.11). When rangeland restingis implemented the set aside area has a large increase in cover and biomass. This decreases the overgrazing risk to 1.78 (still “low risk”).

Olive trees in a Tabias water harvesting system	Extensive grazing, unmitigated

Conclusions

The desertification risk assessment tool is not well equipped to deal with water stress in this very dry area. The factors leading to water stress are statistically chosen which creates some strange omissions (e.g. rainfall amount is not a factor in water stress). The grassland improvement is better simulated with an increase in cover as a result of rangeland resting.

Study area

The study area is located in the southern part of Tunisia. These catchment areas (whose surface is around 892 km2) are drained by two principal wadis: wadi Hallouf in the west part and wadi Oum Zessar. The latter runs out since the mountain chain of Beni Khache crosses the northern delegation of Médenine and reaches the delegation of Sidi Makhlouf to flow in Sebkhas Oum Zessar before reaching the sea. The highest part of the watershed reaches an altitude of 713 m on the level of Jbel Moggar.

Land use and production systems

In the study area, most rainfed farming is based on water harvesting techniques (WHT). This sector is, and will remain, an important component of the region's agricultural production system. Rainfed agriculture grown under WHT play an important role in rural development, but its productivity is, however, low compared with those in countries of the Mediterranean basin and severely limited by chronic rainfall deficits.

Three production systems are identified.

Mixed crop-livestock production system Rainfed agricultural systems grown under soil and water harvesting techniques Rainfed annual crops

Methodology

In order to represent different forms of land degradation and techniques of soil and water conservation used in the study area, different methodological tools are used and adapted to the Tunisian context Photo language and water cycle Transect walk Plenary work and group works with farmer Plenary session: presentation and discussion of group work Problem tree WOCAT technology

Causes and effects of land degradation The main causes and effects of land degradation given by farmers are shown opposite. Phycical, socio-economic and institutional aspects are considered as the main factors of land degradation in the region.

Solutions already applied at the local level The main technologies used in the study area are Watershed treatment (consisting of jessour in the mountain area and tabias in the piedmont) Consolidation of SWC works (pastoral and fruit tree plantations) Surface water mobilization (three types of structures have been installed: recharge units, flood spreading units and cisterns) Enclosures (rangeland resting)

Recommendations and difficulties encountered

• There is a rich local knowledge to cope with natural resources, but  a dialogue is required between stakeholders and scientists to guarantee successful implementation of SWC strategies.
• The causes and effects of land degradation are more complex in arid zones.
• The learning approach is not very easy for the local stakeholders to understand.
• The full and active participation of the stakeholders needs a lot of patience and mutual trust.

More details ... download the full report and poster and see results and general conclusions from other study sites
	WP3.1 Stakeholder Workshop 1: Tunisia (report) (3.94 MB)
	WP3.1 Stakeholder Workshop 1: Tunisia (results poster) (724.68 kB)
»Identifying strategies: Stakeholder Workshop 1 methodology and summary results from all study sites

Stakeholder Workshop 1 identified a number of existing or potential strategies to combat desertification and land degradation in the Zeuss Koutine study site. In the months following the workshop these strategies (technologies or approaches) were documented and evaluated in a structured and standardised way and their descriptions were entered in the WOCAT Technologies and Approaches databases in order to share the information with other DESIRE sites as well as globally.

For details of all Technologies and Approaches documented in the WOCAT Database (from the DESIRE study sites and from other sites worldwide), see

• WOCAT Technologies Database
• WOCAT Approaches Database

For those relating to this study site, click on the Name of technology or Name of approach to go directly to the descriptions in the database.

WOCAT Technologies Database

WOCAT Approaches Database

Authors: Sghaier M., Mahdhi N., Ouessar M., Ben Zaied M., Abdelli F., Ouled Belgacem A. and Taamallah H.

The workshop methodology was designed and coordinated through Research Theme 3: Potential prevention & mitigation strategies and consisted of three main elements:

• A participatory approach to guide and lead the workshop participants through a process of multi-criteria evaluation of different options which finally results in decision-making on strategies to be field-tested.
• The WOCAT database containing locally applied options as well as options from a number of other contexts.
• 'Facilitator', a Multi Objective Decision Support System (MODSS) software to support the single steps of the evaluation and decision-making process.

Target groups were the same as in the 1st workshop: local stakeholders (land users, representatives of local authorities, local NGOs) and external stakeholders (researchers, development professionals, NGOs, GOs).

As a result of the workshop, the following measures were selected for testing in field experiments.

More details ... download full report and see general results and conclusions from other study sites
	WP3.3 Stakeholder Workshop 2: Tunisia (report) (2.65 MB)
»Selecting strategies: Stakeholder Workshop 2 methodology and summary results from all study sites