Moving Towards Integrated Management of Forests in Tunisia

Abstract

"Located between the temperate zones in the north and the desert zones in the south and east, the forest stands around the Mediterranean develop in a climate characterized by irregular rainfall and a dry summer season. The xerophilous vegetation of which they are composed is well known to give low yields of mediocre timber, and it is reputed for its great vulnerability to fires. In the north of the Mediterranean the forests are uninhabited, unlike those in the south, which accommodate a large population - sometimes one inhabitant per hectare. A survey conducted by the Tunisian Forest Administration in 1987 revealed that there were 800 000 users, representing more than 100 000 families, with the equivalent of five livestock units per family, in and around the state-owned forest property covering 905 000 ha. This population exerts continuous pressure on the forest stands through deforestation and overgrazing, which makes the conservation of these forests and their development something of a feat."