The document describes a study mapping land degradation and sustainable land management practices in the Wadi Hallouf watershed in southeast Tunisia. Key findings include: 1) Various land use systems were mapped including cereal agriculture, agriculture behind jessours, plain and mountain rangelands, dahar rangelands, and halophyte rangelands. 2) For each land use system, land degradation types, extent, causes, and impacts were documented as well as existing conservation measures and their effectiveness. 3) Recommendations are provided to improve sustainable land management including restoring vegetation cover, improving soil and water conservation practices, controlling grazing levels, and expanding reforestation efforts.

1. .
.
Mapping land degradation andMapping land degradation and
sutainable management in thesutainable management in the
wadi Hallouf watershed (Southwadi Hallouf watershed (South
east Tunisia)east Tunisia)
Enneb I., H. Taamallah, M. Ouessar, G. van LyndenEnneb I., H. Taamallah, M. Ouessar, G. van Lynden
Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), TunisiaInstitut des Régions Arides (IRA), Tunisia
ISRIC, Wageningen, The NetherlandsISRIC, Wageningen, The Netherlands
International Conference on Combating Land Degradation and
Annual Councilor Meeting of WASWAC （ LANDCON1010 ）
Xi’an, China, 12 October 2010

2. Study Area : Covers the watersheds of wadi Oum Zessar and wadi El
Halouf which are localized in southeast Tunisia. Administratively, it belongs to
three counties (Médenine Nord, Sidi Maklouf and Béni Khédache) of the
province of Médenine. It has an arid climate (Rainfall: 150-230 mm )

3. Land use system (LUS)Land use system (LUS)

4. Mapping unitsMapping units

6. Cereal agricultureCereal agriculture

7. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use
system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Cereals
Agriculture
1 0

8. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO2)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e) Indirect
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Et Ed 5% 2 2 f4, n4 p/ t P1(-2), E4(-2)
Pc 5% 1 1 s1 p / t P1(-2), E4(-2)
Bc 40% 3 2 f4, s4 p/ t P1(-2), E4(-2)

9. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO2)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpo
se
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effecti
veness
h)Effect.
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Perio
d
k)Ref
QT
Sand
stabilisat-
ion
SD S8 M1 M/P 5% Ed Bc
Et
3 0
P1(+2)
E4 (1)
1950
Tabia WH S3 M/P 10% Ed Bc
Et Bc
3 0
P2 (1)
E1 (1)
1950

10. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
* To reduce vegetation cover degradation through the use of means
for sand fixation and soil and water conservation (CES)
* To use practices to restore the vegetation cover and to reduce soil
degradation

11. Agriculture behind jessourAgriculture behind jessour

12. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Agriculture behind
jessour
0 0

13. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO3 / ZK-BKE4 / ZK-MN3 / ZK-SM1)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e) Indirect
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Wg Wt 10% 2 1 s3, n3 l P2 (-1), E2(-1)
Ha Hs 10% 2 2 n1/ n6 P2(-1), E4(-1)
Bc 15% 3 2 n6 E8 (-1),

14. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO3 / ZK-BKE4 / ZK-MN3 / ZK-SM1)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpos
e
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effec
tivenes
s
h)Effect.
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Peri
od
k)Ref
QT
Jessour WH S3 A1 M/P 60% Wg Ha Bc 3 1 P2(2)
E2 (2)
E8(2)
1900

15. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
* To intensify water and soil conservation (CES) works.
*To ensure maintenance and to safeguard CES works (especially after
the floods and exceptional rains).

16. Plain rangelandsPlain rangelands

17. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Plain rangelands -2 -2

18. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO4 / ZK-BKE3 / ZK-MN4 / ZK-SM6)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e)
Indirect
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Wt Wg Wr 15% 2 3 s1, g1/n6 l/P P1 (-2), E2(-2) E8(-2)
Et Ed 15% 2 3 f6/ g1/n6 l/P P1 (-2), E2(-2) E8(-2)
Bc B q 10% 3 3 n6 l/P E8 (-2), E2(-2), P1(-2)

19. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO4 / ZK-BKE3 / ZK-MN4 / ZK-SM6)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpos
e
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effec
ti
veness
h)Effect
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Peri
od
k)Ref
QT
Fencing
Resting
GR M5 M/P 5% Wt Et 4 1 E2 (2)
E8(2)
1957 TUN11
Afforest
ation
vs V2 M/P 5% Et Bc 4 1 E2 (2)
E8(2)
1957 TUN11
Sand
dune
fixation
Sd S8 M/P 5% Et 4 1 E2 (2)
E8(2)
1957 TUN11

20. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
* To use practices for vegetation cover restoration, reduction of
livestock, while limiting cultivation extension
* To consolidate / Land protection works.

21. Mountain rangelandsMountain rangelands

22. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use
system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Moutain range
lands
-2 -2

23. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO5 / ZK-BKE2 / ZK-MN2 / ZK-SM2)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e)
Indirec
t
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Wg Wt 15% 3 3 n3 t /P P1 (-2)
Ha 10% 2 2 n3 ,n6 P/h E2(-2)
Bc Bh 15% 3 3 g1 P/t/h E8 (-3)

24. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO5 / ZK-BKE2 / ZK-MN2 / ZK-SM2)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpos
e
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effecti
veness
h)
Effect.
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Peri
od
k) Ref
QT
Fencing
Resting
GR V2 M/P 5% Bc Bt 4 1 E8 (3)
P1(2)
1960 TUN11

25. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
•To extend setting fenced areas
* To reduce livestock number.

26. Dahar rangelandsDahar rangelands

27. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use
system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Dahar rangelands 0 0

28. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO1)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e)
Indirec
t
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Et Ed 15% 3 3 g1/ l2/ n4 t /O P1 (-1) / E8(-2)
Cn 15% 2 2 e2 t /O E8(-2)
Wt 10% 3 3 n3 t /O E8 (-2)

29. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKO1)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpos
e
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effec
ti
veness
h)Effect.
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Per
iod
k)Ref
QT
Pallissade Sd S8 M/P 3% Et Ed 3 1 P1 (1)
E8(2)
1980 TUN11
Fencing
Resting
GR M5 M/P 3% Et Ed Cn 3 1
E8(2)
1980 TUN11
Afforestati
on
VS V1 M/P 3% Et Wt 2 1 E8(2) 1980 TUN11

30. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
• reduce wind erosion phenomenon and livestock number,
• Watering points/sources multiplication
* To Improve fencing and resting works
* Expansion of plantations / Pallissade

31. Agriculture behind tabiasAgriculture behind tabias

32. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Agriculture behind
Tabia
2 2

33. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKE1 / ZK-MN1/ ZK-SM4)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e)
Indirect
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Wt Wd 5% 2 -2 n2 / n4 l E2(-1)

34. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-BKE1 / ZK-MN1/ ZK-SM4)
Conservation (step 4)
a)
Name
b)
Group
c)
Measure
d)
Purpos
e
e) % of
area
f)Degration
addressed
g)Effec
ti
veness
h)Effect.
Trend
i) Impact
on ESS
j)Peri
od
k)Ref
QT
Tabia Tr /
Wh / Sc
S3 A1 M/P 30% Wt Wg 4 1 P1 (3), E2(3)
S5(3)
1960 TUN1
1
Gabion
Recharge
SA
PR
Sc
S6 M/P 20% Wt Wg 4 1 P1 (3), E2(3)
S5(3)
1960 TUN1
1
Drg
stones
ridges
RH
Sc
S2 A1 M/P 10% Wt Wg 4 1 P1 (3), E2(3)
S5(3)
1960
Gabion
spreading
WH
PR
Sc
S6 M/P 10% Wt Wg 4 1 P1 (3), E2(3)
S5(3)
1960 TUN1
1

35. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M
P
* Consolidation and reservation of plantation
* watershed integrated management

36. Halophyte rangelandsHalophyte rangelands

37. Land use system (step2)
Administrative
or other unit
Land use
system
(LUS)
a)Area
Trend
b) Intensity
Trend
District xy Halophyste
rangelands
-1 1

38. Mapping unit ID: (ZK-SM6)
Land degradation (step 3)
a)Type
i ii iii
b)
Extent
c)
Degree
d)
Rate
f) Direct
cause
e) Indirect
cause
g) Impact on
Eco System.
Services
Cs Pw 50% 3 1 n5
O: high
evaporation
Runoff reduced
E1(-1)
Bc
35% 2 1 e2 h E4 (-2)

39. Expert recommendation (Step 5)
Expert
recommendation Remarks and additional information
M/P • Grazing level control,
• Improve water runoff
• wood collection reduction

44. We love deserts but we combat desertifcation ….