This document summarizes a technical session on the use of treated wastewater in forestry and agroforestry systems in Near East and North Africa countries. It outlines how water scarcity limits production in these dryland regions. The session discusses using treated wastewater as an alternative water source to improve availability and reduce degradation. Pilot projects are being implemented in 4 Mediterranean countries to test innovative wastewater treatment methods like fertirrigation and phyto-depuration. The goals are to support food security, combat desertification, and strengthen partnerships around safely using treated wastewater.

1. Near East & North Africa
15-18 December 2013
Technical Session 2:
Use of treated waste water in forestry and agroforestry systems
(GCP/RAB/013/ITA)
Alberto Del Lungo,
FAO Forestry Department

2. NENA Countries
• Evapotranspiration
exceeds precipitation
– no matter the
amount
• Water scarcity limits
the production of
crops forage, wood
and other ecosystem
services
World Drylands

3. Forestry
in some Mediterranean countries with arid
zones
Country Total forest
area
mill ha
Planted forest
area
mill ha
% tot for
Libya
0.2
0.2
100
Sudan
70
6.1
8.7
Turkey
11
3.4
30.2
Spain
18
2.7
14.7
Egypt
0.07
0.07
100
Tunisia
1
0.7
70
Source: FAO Forest Resource Assessment 2010

4. Non-conventional waters
• Alternative sources of water to be utilized in
support of fresh waters (mainly agriculture
and domestic uses)
• To be used, need
– either to be generated as by specialized
processes (e.g. desalination)
or
– suitable pre-use treatment and/or appropriate
soil–water–crop management strategies when
used for irrigation

5. Use of non conventional waters in arid zones, why?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To improve availability of water in arid
zones
To reduce forestry and agroforestry
degradation
To reduce soil erosion and low water
retention capacity
To combat Desertification
To improve land productivity
To strengthen country capacity building
To ensure food security and poverty
alleviation

6. Non-conventional waters
• Seawater
• Brackish water
• Harvested rainwater
• Ground water
• Agricultural drainage water
• Urban-wastewater

7. Urban wastewater
• Is an unconventional and
non-competitive water
resource with fresh water
• Is often the most available
water resource in dry areas
and areas with low
availability of fresh water
• Provide environmental
benefits to receiving water
bodies and reduce CO2
emissions

8. Treated wastewater, why?
•
Arid zones countries are lacking of fresh water and are “reach” of
untreated waste water
•
Wastewater discharged in the environment creates serious
problems of environmental pollution and increase of soil salinity
and desertification
BUT
•
If treated well can provide an alternative source of water and
reduce competition for fresh water
•
Can be safely used on fruit trees and in forestry systems for
provision of wood and biomass
•
Can be used on integrated landscape management: forestry and
agroforestry systems

9. FAO Forestry priorities on TWW
•
•
•
•
•
Support food security through the safe use of nonconventional water in forestry/agro-forestry systems of arid
zones
Respond to the request of technical support from NENA
countries
Transfer knowledge and technology on the safe use of nonconventional water in agriculture
Develop partnerships among country research institutions
Expand to other countries that have already requested to
participate these activities (Bahrain, Libya, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Syria, Yemen…)

10. Testing the use of TWW in forestry/agroforestry
• One year of activities through project
GCP/RAB/013/ITA
• Building partnerships with
national/international scientific research
institutions
• Transfer/sharing knowledge on the safe use of
treated waste water in forestry/agroforestry
• Implementing pilot projects in 4 Mediterranean
countries

11. Innovative methodologies adopted for treating water:
fertirrigation
•
Ferti-irrigation system:
wastewater used is only partially
treated. Most of the organic
matter is re-used for irrigation
to increase carbon storage in
the soil (University of Basilicata,
Italy)

12. Innovative methodologies adopted for treating water:
Phyto-depuration
•
Phyto-depuration: wastewater is filtered by vegetation. The
System is cost-effective, affordable and sustainable for
rural communities in remote dry areas (University of Tuscia,
Italy)

13. Project Activities – Algeria
Provide support to the establishment of a phyto-depuration
plant in the oasis of Brézina for woody biomass production
Design and set up of phyto-depuration plants to improve
water quality and availability and to fight sand
encroachment in the oasis of Taghit

14. Project Activities – Egypt
•
Provide support to the
Government of Egypt to
develop a Forest
Management Plan for a
1,000 feddans (420 ha)
plantation irrigated using
treated wastewater, located
in Ismailia, Serapium
•
Provide training support to
national forestry
professionals
•
Ensure sustainable forest
management and future
increase to planted forest
area

15. Project Activities – Morocco
• Design and development of a system that
will use partially treated wastewater for
fertirrigation of a 10 hectares palm tree
section of the Green Belt of Marrakech
• Establishment of a buffer zone of planted
forests species to protect the green belt and
reduce soil erosion

16. Project Activities – Tunisia
• Design of a phytodepuration plant in
Ouechtata to improve
water quality for
domestic consumption
and agricultural needs
• Design of a
fertirrigation system
for olive trees and
biomass production in
Haffouz

17. Strengthening transfer of knowledge through
networking and communication
• PhD student University of
Marrakech – University of
Basilicata
• Training in Egypt
• Workshop in Marrakech, Morocco
• Workshop in Cairo, Egypt
• Workshop in Potenza, Italy
• Project website as document
repository of the activities

18. Strengthening national and international partnerships

19. FAO expected impacts on the use of TWW
in forestry/agroforestry
• Increased quality and availability of water for agroforestry production
• Increased food security
• Enhanced income opportunities
• Desertification control and improvement of soil quality
and productivity
• Facilitate networking and exchange of information on
the use of TWW
• Transfer of knowledge and integration within participant
countries

20. •
THANK YOU