Draft environmental profile on Tunisia

This report of the natural resources of this small, arid country emphasizes major environmental problems, legislation already passed for environmental protection, and provides recommendations to reverse environmental degradation. After brief remarks on farming practices in Tunisia, the impact of the population"s growing migration to urban centers upon agriculture, industry, and the economy is discussed. The survey of the country"s water, soils, land, wildlife, and mineral resources reveals several critical problems. Water resources, of which groundwater is the main constituent, are being depleted by the sharply increased withdrawal of groundwater for irrigated areas and by the growing needs of industry and households. In the absence of adequate water quality control systems, this growing use has increased the salinity, sedimentation, and chemical and fecal content of the country"s waters. The landbase, another object of rapid depletion, is being eroded mainly by disturbance of the vegetative cover through improper cropping and overgrazing of livestock. The Tunisian government has recognized the dangers confronting the country"s natural resources and has passed protective legislation to stabilize coastal and continental sand dunes by establishing forests and by developing a transnational zone with ecosystem protection devices such as conservation farming and carefully managed rangeland. Additional activities recommended to counter erosion include: contour plowing on steep slopes; crop rotation; strip cultivation; terrace construction; avoidance of grazing in the growing season; and reduction of animal numbers. Although these activities will reduce natural resource depletion, the biggest problem will be meeting the population"s growing needs for land and water and at the same time, encouraging them to adopt prudent practices to sustain Tunisia"s natural resources. Lists of environmental protection legislation and organizations, literature cited, supporting bibliographies (1969-79), and technical appendices are attached.