Summary
The soils affected by erosion, with less organic matter and less height of the profile are more rapidly dried in spring by evaporation; their yield becomes less; the winds of summer and autumn are responsible of their transport (wind erosion).
The reduction of the plants diversity is explained first by the more frequent occurrence of dry years but also by the overgrazing and cutting. The effects of such dynamics are the reduction of soil stability (less organic matter) and of soil fertility.
The reduction of the plants growth is explained by the irregularity of rain. But the soil degradation is also perceived as a factor of this reduction. The difference between the upper part of the slopes and their downstream in term of plant density and yield is explained by the occurrence of more evaporation upstream (exposition to the sun and to the winds). But, the water circulation inside the soil, along the slope is not perceived by the peasants.
The selected monitoring sites represent the main encountered problems in the region namely: water scarcity and rangeland degradation.
Water harvesting techniques (jessour and tabias) are used for the improvement of water content of soil and thus evapotranspiration of plants and trees
Replenishment of groundwater aquifers are ensured through the recharge structures (gabion check dams and recharge wells
Rangeland degradation is cured using the rangeland resting techniques
