1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Direction générale des fôrets - Tunisia

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine (Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine) - Tunisia

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Ghent University (UGent) - Belgium

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Protection and reforestation of degraded arid lands in pre-Saharan Tunisia.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Protection and reforestation of degraded arid lands in central and southern Tunisia (Bled Talah region) with tree species Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana. A. raddiana is a native trees species which is able to tolerate extreme droughts and to persist on the edge of the Sahara desert. Acacia plantations are set up following a 3m x 3m grid using seedlings of A. raddiana. Seedlings are planted in the bottom of infiltration pits which are constructed for rainwater harvesting. Protection of the plantation area is established by means of a fence.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of afforestation is the rehabilitation of degraded drylands and restoration of the original forest-steppe ecosystem in the Bled Talah region, which suffered for over a century from overexploitation of natural resources and intensification of agricultural activities. Focus is put on the synergy between the protection of the natural resources with the involvement of local people and the improvement of their livelihoods.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The protection of the Bled Talah region was initiated in 1936 and from then on several actions were undertaken such as the construction of a tree nursery and the creation of Integral Protection Zones through complete fencing. The Bled Talah area was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. Bou Hedma National Park was officially created by the Ministry of Forests in 1980 covering an area of approximately 16.000 ha. The park consists of three Integral Protection Zones or core areas which are completely fenced, two agricultural zones and two buffer zones. Since the 1970s, several reforestation campaigns with A. raddiana are conducted in the Integral Protection Zones.

Natural / human environment: Arid Tunisia, i.e. the central and southern part of Tunisia, is characterized by an extremely irregular spatiotemporal rainfall pattern, a limited amount of rain (350 mm maximum per year), a limited number of days of rain (15 to 40 days a year) and a high average annual temperature (18 to 21 °C).

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Overexploitation of natural resources such as tree cutting for fuelwood and intensification of agriculture such as intensive grazing of cattle lead to increased pressure on the environment causing severe degradation of the orginal ecosystem.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Less arable land and reduced fodder availability in the region.

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Selective felling of (semi-) natural forests: Yes

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, grazing / browsing

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Comments:

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Et: loss of topsoil, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline, Bl: loss of soil life

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Pk: sealing and crusting, Hg: change in groundwater / aquifer level

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (tree cutting for fuel), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (fodder), overgrazing (intensive grazing), population pressure

Secondary causes of degradation: land tenure, poverty / wealth

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Third goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Tunisian Dinar

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

1.65

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	seed collection	June/July/August
2.	tree nursery	July/August
3.	plantation	rainy season (sept-->dec)
4.	installation fence	1 day

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	330.0	330.0
Construction material	Iron wire fence	ha	1.0	1600.0	1600.0
Construction material	iron poles	ha	1.0	800.0	800.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2730.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1654.55

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 8 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	follow up plantation (irrigation)	weekly 1 day by 2 workers for 1 year

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					30.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					18.18

Comments:

The above costs were calculated for the establishment of a 1 ha fenced plantation with 1000 seedlings on a 3m x 3m grid. From collecting seeds to planting of the seedlings and fencing the plantation it takes about 8 months. Irrigation through the first year after planting is done to ensure survival of the seedlings.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most determinate factor affecting the costs is tree nursing. This factor is not only labour intersive but also high in water demand.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil texture: coarse/medium (loamy sand/sandy loam)
Soil fertility is low
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium - poor
Soil water storage is low - medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly Leaders / privileged

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Mainly men are involved because the establishment of a plantation is labour intensive.

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• group
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Until now no land users have implemented the technology because the government does not provide any incentives/subsidies.

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
protection (less soil degradation) and rehabilitation of the natural ecosystem How can they be sustained / enhanced? involvement of local people
direct and indirect improvement of the livelihoods of local people How can they be sustained / enhanced? awareness raising
improved soil carbon stocks How can they be sustained / enhanced? maintenance of existing and establishment of new plantations
increased biodiversity (trees act as fertility islands facilitating the growth of ground cover plants) How can they be sustained / enhanced? maintenance of existing and establishment of new plantations

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
no tree planting initiatives undertaken by local people	incentives/subsidies from government
no public awareness of importance to conserve natural resources	set up of a large educational program with regular activities in the park and further elaboration of the small ecological museum

7.1 Methods/ sources of information