TUNISIA Prepared by the Arid Lands Information Center Office of Arid
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Environmental Report on Tunisia (Revised Draft) Item Type text; Book; Report Authors Grant, A. Paige; University of Arizona. Arid Lands Information Center. Publisher U.S. Man and the Biosphere Secretariat, Department of State (Washington, D.C.) Download date 24/09/2021 13:33:02 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/228135 SNVIRONPrt.ENTAL REPORT On TUNISIA (Revised Draft) Prepared by the Arid Lands Information Center Office of Arid Lands Studies University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721 AID RSSA SA /TOA 77 -1 National Park Service Contract No. CX- 0001 -0 -0003 with U.S. Man and the Bioschere Secretariat Department of State Washington, D.C. December 1981 - A. Paige Grant, Compiler - THE UNITED STATES NATIO MAN AND TI-4E BIOSPHERE Department of State, IO /UCS WASHINGTON. D. C. 2O5ZO An Introductory Note on Draft Environmental Profiles: The attached draft environmental report has been prepared under a contract between the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), Office of Forestry, Environment, and Natural Resources (ST /FNR) and the U.S. Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program.It is a preliminary review of information available in the United States on the status of the environment and the natural resources of the identified country and is one of a series of similar studies now underway on countries which receive U.S. bilateral assistance. This report is the first step in a process to develop better information for the AID Mission, for host country officials, and others on the environmental situation in specific countries and begins to identify the most critical areas of concern. A more comprehensive study may be undertaken in each country by Regional Bureaus and /or AID Missions. These would involve local scientists in a more detailed examination of the actual situations as well as a better definition of issues, problems and priorities. Such "Phase II" studies would provide substance for the Agency's Country Development Strategy Statements as well as justifications for program initiatives in the areas of environment and natural resources. Comments on the attached draft report would be welcomed by USMAB and ST /FNR and should be addressed to either: James Corson Molly Kux MAB Project Coordinator Office of Forestry, Environment, and IO /UCS /MAB OR Natural Resources SA-5 Rm 410 U.S. AID Department of State Washington, D.C. 20523 Washington, D.C. 20520 A COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO Commission Established by Act of Congress July 30, 1946 eaeatInternatlonal bounoary --Governorate oounaarv National caartai O Governorare caortai Ra., 120 Road S T: ^.:4ARy With the exception of the Tell region in the north of the countr, ,Tunisia is an arid land subject to great variation in amounts of rainfall from year to year. A small country to begin with, 20 percent of its land area is judged to be completely unproductive, and another 13,000 hectares of land is estimated to be lost to the desert each year. The basis of support for Tunisia's population is literally being eroded from under them, while the population grows at a rate of 2.3 percent per year. The major environmental problems of Tunisia include: Loss of agricultural land, existing or potential, tnrough erosion caused by damaging cultivation practices and inade- quate management of floodwaters. 2. Degradation of range and forest lands through uncontrolled grazing, extraction of fuelwood, and erosion that follows removal of the vegetative cover. 3. Overcrowding in urban centers, caused by migration of people fleeing the deteriorating situation in the countryside, and producing problems of pollution of the public water supply and spread of diseases related to poor sanitation. 4. Industrial pollution, so far apparently li.:.ited in extent, but becoming a major problem in urban areas where indust,"_' , =t' ^n _s proceeding. The Lake of Tunis is badly colluted by factory effluents, and air quality is impaired in several major industrial : enters. 3. The potential of increasing groundwater salinity caused by saline irrigation waters percolating down to the water table. 6. Lack of adequate _rotecticn for native flora and fauna, thus impoverishing the national and global cool of genetic resources. The Tunisian government has passed legislation to address most of these problems, but the means of achieving compliance of the local copulation has not yet been found. The challenge of improving Tunisia's environment is to find ways of fulfilling the immediate needs of the People while encouraging them to adopt land use practices that will sustain the natural resources of Tunisia indefinitely. TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary Introduction 1.0 General Description 3 1.1 Geccraohv 4 1.1.1 The Mountainous Tell Region of the North 3 1.1.2 The Central Steppes 3 1.1.3 The Sahel Region 4 1.1.4 The Tunisian Sahara 4 1.2 Population 4 1.3 Economy 5 2.0 Environment and Natural Resources 7 2.1 Water Resources 7 2.1.1 Surface Water 7 2.1.2 Groundwater 9 2.1.3 Water Quality 11 2.1.4 Specific Water Problems 2.2 Soils 14 2.3 Land Use and Erosion 15 2.3.1 Natural Vegetation 15 2.3.2 Agriculture 17 2.3.3 Fisheries 18 2.3.4 Pastoralism 18 2.3.5 Forests 21 2.3.6 Erosion /Desertification 22 2.3.6.1 The Problem 22 2.3.6.2 Counter -Erosion Activities 24 2.4 Wildlife /Wildlands 28 2.4.1 Protected Areas 28 2.4.2 Wildlife 28 2.3 Minerals and Fuels 29 3.0 Environmental Legislation 31 3.1 Summary of Areas Covered by Environmental Legislation 31 3.2 List of Laws 31 3.2.1 Water 31 3.2.1.1 Domestic Regulations 31 v; 3.2.1.2 International Agreements 33 3.2.2 Soil 34 3.2.3 Land Use 35 3.2.3.1 Domestic Regulations 35 3.2.4 Forests and Vegetation 36 3.2.5 Wildlife /Wildlands 7 3.2.6 Fisheries 37 3.2.7 Minerals /Atomic Energy 38 3.2.8 Hazardous Substances 38 3.2.9 Environmental Policy 38 4.0 Environmental Organizations 39 4.1 Governmental 39 4.1.1 Ministere d'Agriculture 39 4.1.2 Ministere de l'Education Nationale 43 4.1.3 Ministere de l'Economie Nationale 43 4.1.4 Sous -Secretariat d'Etat au Plan a l'industrie et au Commerce 43 4.1.5 Ministry of Health 43 4.1.6 Commissaryship of Atomic Energy 43 4.1.7 National Environmental Board 43 4.1.8 National Planning Council 44 4.1.9 Libraries 44 4.2 Quasi- Governmental 44 4.2.1 University of Tunis 44 4.3 Non- Governmental 4.3.1 Association pour la Protection de la Nature et de l'Environnement 45 4.3.2 Association T;;nisienne du Planning Familial 46 4.3.3 Federation des Associations Regionales de Chasse 46 4.4 Governmental /Nongovernmental Status Unclear 46 4.4.1 Ecole de l'Aviation Civile et de la ?!eteorolocie 46 4.4.2 Ecole Nationale de la Statisticue 46 4.4.3 Institut d'Economie Quantitative Ali -Bach -Hamba 46 4.4.4 Institut National de Nutrition et de Technologie Alimentaire 46 4.4.5 Institut Argoing 46 4.4.6 Institut National de Nutrition 46 4.4.7 Institut National de Recherches Veterinaires 47 4.4.8 Institut Pasteur 47 4.4.9 Office Geologique 4 4.4.10 Service Geologique 47 4.5 Cabinet representatives of relevant ministries 47 4.6 National Committee for the :!an and the Biosphere ('LAB) Program 48 Literature Cited 49 Appendix I Population Data 53 Appendix II Economic Characteristics 57 Aacendix III Selected 3ibliograp by 69 INTRODUCTION This environmental report (revised draft) summarizes information available in the United States on the natural resources and environment of Tunisia. The report reviews the major environmental problems of Tunisia and the impact of the development process upon resources and the environment. This draft report represents the first step in developing an environmental profile for use by the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S. AID) and Tunisian government officials. The next step in this process should be a field study to evaluate the information presented here, obtain additional information, and define the issues, problems, and priorities in greater detail. This entire process should help provide direction in future efforts to deal with the management, conservation, and rehabilitation of the environment and natural resources. The information and interpretations in this report are preliminary and are not intended to attain the detail and accuracy required for development planning. The report represents a cooperative effort by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) project staff of the Arid Lands Information Center (ALIC). The primary research, writing, and analysis of the original draft were done by A. Paige Grant, through the resources of ALIC and the University of Arizona Library. The original draft version of this report was completed in February 1980. Revisions and editing were undertaken by Mark Speece. The cooperation of James Corson, AID /MAB Project Coordinator, and other AID Personnel is gratefully acknowledged. Arid Lands information Center (ALIC) _E Project Staff M. Justin Wilkinson Director, ALIC, and Profile Coordinator Robert G. :'arady Profile Editor Eric J. Arnould Pro`'1ar Steven L. silty Profiler :ark W. Sceece Profiler 1.0 neral Descr ior.- " 1.1 GeocraGhv Tunisia is the smallest and most easterly of the three Maghreb countries of North Africa (t:-.e other tw0 are Algeria and Morocco) . Witn an area of 163,610 square kilometers, it is bordered on the east by Libya, on the west by Algeria, and on the north by ,r.e Mediterranean Sea.