biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS 

IN TUNISIA 

Prepared by : 

Scott D. Posner 

January, 1988

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS 

IN TUNISIA 

Prepared by 

Sc~tt I). Poscer 

The Washicetor D.C. acd Tsris Offices of the 

Ageccy fbr Ictercati oral Develapmert

Preface 

Exec2tjve Sxmmary 

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS IN TU?!ISIA 

PART I : EIOLOCICAL DIVERSITY 

TABLE OF CO?lTEYlTS 

Page: 

2 . Sackgroc~d Ir.f3rnatioc oc Tccisja ............................ 2 

2 . . Tt. E Co~crry ........................................ 2 

-. - L.L. C1:xte ........................................ 2 

2.3. Flora ................................................. 5 

2 7 . . Gec~tic Reso~rces ............................ 6 

2.7.2. Species ic Need of Protectior ................ 10 

2.3.3. Prctectioc Agencies .......................... 11 

2 4 . 9a;ra ................................................. 12 

2.7. Yamrels ...................................... 12 

2.1.2. ?irds ........................................ 14 

2.4. X~cticg ...................................... 75 

2 4 . . Faza Protecrioc ............................. 15 

3 . Prizary Zcssystens of T.xisia ................................ 16 

3 ... Coastrl Zoces ......................................... 16 

3.1.1. Corsl Coast .................................. 18 

3.7.2. C. ilf of P~cis ................................ 21 

3.3. G~2f of Hammarnet ............................. 25 

3.1.L. G~lf of Cabes ................................ 28 

3.2. 1slar.d~ ............................................... 33 

3.2.1. Galite ....................................... 35 

3.2.2. Zembra ....................................... 38 

3.2.3. Kxriate ...................................... 43 

3.2.4. Kerkeccah .................................... 44 

3.2.5. Kceiss ....................................... 46 

3.2.6. Jerba ........................................ 47 

3.3. k!etlacds .............................................. 50 

3.3.1. !%rice Lakes acd Lagoons ...................... 52 

3.3.2. Sebkhets acd Chotts ........................... 64 

3.3.7. Rivers acd Reservoirs ........................ 74 

3.3.r. Other Freshwater Uetlacds .................... 75 

7.L. .lo-rtei r.s ............................................. 80 

3 . L ... Kro-nirj e/!lagods ............................. 80 

3.L.2. !!:gh "ell .................................... 92 

3.1.3. T.;r.S sf.ar. Dorsal .............................. 95 

3.4.4. T'3 .;rta S.rs ~f the High Steppe ................. :I2 

3.1.5. Do-Srat 116 

...................................... 

i 

i i

Table of Coctects (~octiczed) 

3.5. Steppes ............................................... :lE 

3.5.1. High Steppes ................................. 120 

3.5.2. Low Steppes .................................. 122 

3.5.3. S~bdesertic Littoral Steppe .................. 124 

3.5.4. Ssbdesertic Corticertal Steppe ............... 127 

3.6. Gracd Easterc Erg: Sahara ............................ 130 

3.7. Oases ................................................. 132 

4 . Ecosystems by Coivercorat .................................... 134 

5 . Eiological Diversity Protecticm .............................. 181 

5.1. Covercnect Icstjtctiocal Strzct.-re .................... :81 

5.2. Coc-Govercmectal kssocjztjocs ......................... :82 

5.3. Ecvirocmectal Leglslatioc ............................. 183 

5.4. I?atiocal Parks acd Reserves ........................... 784 

5.4.:. Zenbra Ilatiocal Park acd )l,i.osphcrt: ??s~rve .... 186 

5.4.2. 1chke.A 1!P ard ZR ............................ 186 

5.4.3. Chanbi NP acd a?? ............................. :87 

5.4.4. Bos Hedma !tP acd ER .......................... 187 

5.4.5. So, Korrire TIP ............................... 187 

5.4.6. Proposed !P at El PeSdje ..................... 

5.4.7. Proposed YIP at Yanada ard Djebfl Sldl To;;< ... :8R 

5.4.8. Calitoc Reservf .............................. 188 

5.4.9. Lake Yxis Protected Y!etlacd ................. 189 

5.4.10. Air . Bacco ch ard IXbes Reserves ............. 789 

5.4..1. Kechen el Kelb Reserve ....................... 189 

5.4.12. Orbata Reserve ............................... 190 

5.4.13. D6r Chichm Reserve .......................... 190 

5.4.14. Proposed Fi? at Jer.eir . - C-ed O;cj ............ 190 

6 . S-.inmary of Priority Cocservatioc Xeeds ..................... 791 

PART 11: TROPICAL FOBESTS 

1 . Ictrodsctioc ................................................. 194 

2 . Forest Types ................................................. 195 

3 . Statss of T~cisiac Forests ................................... 196 

4 . Forest Protectioc ............................................ 200

List of Figures: 

LISTS OF FIGURES AHD TABLES 

F i e : Title: Page: 

List of Tables: 

...................... 

.............................. 

Plact Species Ecdenic to Tcnisia 

Examples of Medj cical Plact Species ................... 

Coastal Zoces of Tccisja 

Birds of the G-lf of Gabes ............................ 

Locetiors of 1slar.d~ of T-cisia ....................... 

!i!etl~cds of T~risia ................................... 

2;rds 

. 

of Tchke-l ...................................... 

?os.t.ai r. Pzcg~s of T~ri sia ............................ 

Flsra cf 3jebel 3 ~ Korcj~e : ........................... 

Steppes a~.d Grmd Kasterr Erg cf T.ais5.a .............. 

Siras ?f the Xabesl Go~vercorat ....................... 

3 r d sf ~ the Txls Go .: ver~orat ........................ 

Eirds zf the Kasserjce G~~verrorat .................... 

Sirds of the Sjdj Eoy~ Zid Gxivercoret ................. 

Pirds of the Cabes CD, v~rcsrat ........................ 

P~T%s E E ~ Iies~rves of T .: c5sja ......................... 

. . 

Table: Yite: 

Page : 

4 .. Climete ard Sioclinate Deta 

for Several Locatiocs ir T~rjsjn ........................ 4

Preface 

This doczmect was prepared for the Agency for Ictercatiocal 

Developnect (AID) ic resporse to FAA Amecdmects 118 acd 119, which coccerc 

the cocservatioc acd erhaccemect of biological diversity acd tropical 

forests. The statcs, trecds acd icfluences on the flora, fauca and 

ecosystems are addressed ir- order to provide ac informatioc base for zse 

by AIE/T;ci s j c reporting to ~ID/h'ashicgt.oc D. C., fornzlaticg actioc plans 

ard preparic~ Fr-virocmectal Assessnects of proposed projects. The 

doczi~r.t has beer cross-referecced by ecosystems acd gouvercorats to 

facllitet~ 3vjrsr.n~ctal Assessmeet preparati on. This docmeet is also 

ict ecded for _se by cor-govercnectal orgacj zatjor-s, docor orgar5 zatiocs 

erd the Covercnect of Txisia. 

Follovjrti. the preceder-t of the FAA amecdmects, there are separate 

disc;;ssl3r.s OF bi."lagical diversity end tropical forests ic this ssrvey. 

However, forests are a major compocect of biologi.ca1 divers%ty, so the 

b,l% zf ecolcgical icfarnation has beec coccectrated ic Part I. Ic 

liter at.^^^ describicg the ecosystems of TucisSa, certaic arabic terms are 

so c~nr.3~. (s.;ch as 'd jeb~l' for n~xtaic) that they are used ic the text. 

Ar. irkerect problem with local t.erms (iccludice canes of cities) that the 

reeder sh~zld be aware of is that differecces ic ph0enet.i~ spellicgs are 

fo..xd ic other docmects (ex. djebel, jebel, djebbel are all used ic the 

literat-re). A short glossary has beec provided to define some of the 

xfenil5 ar terms. 

This sirvey was Pxded by AID/h'ashicgtoc t.hro~eh A~D/Tzcis. The 

s;pym: giver by Peace Corps/Tc~isja, iccludicg use of a word processicg 

conpiter, ir-formatior gathering assistacce acd moral support, is siccerely 

appreciated. Icformati~c from the Directioc des Forets ic the form of 

p~clished reports a ~ d disc~ssio~s comprises a large part of this stirvey. 

Special thacks go to !!r. Selmi Khenaies, who greatly facilitated my work 

ic kcjsia, acd to each of the icgeniezrs and gardes-chasse that 

accompacied ne ic the field. Mr. Fichael Smart of the Ictercational 

Vaterfowl Research kreau was an icvaluable soiirce of icformation on 

wetlacds acd ecvjrocmectal coccercs ic Tur.isia, and gzided me to the most 

imp3rter.t locations ic the field. I an also grateful to Thorstoc Weilbel 

of the GTZ for vegetatioc icformatioc and a home base ic Tsnis.

EIOLOCICAL DIVERSITY AXD TROPICAL FORESTS I!! TUI!ISIA 

FXECUTIVF: SUWABY 

T;;r.isia is the snallest of the Maghreb txitiocs with a total surface 

area of 16 millioc hectares acd a popr;latior. of 7,259,000. Altho~eh its 

small size, low mozctaics (maximam elevatioc 1544 rn compared to 4167 m ic 

~orocco) acd decse pop;latioc leave Tscisla with fewer ecdenic species of 

fa~ca acd flora thac are fozcd ic the rest of the F!aghreb, the species 

diversity is fairly rich acd is distributed throoeh a variety of 

ecosystems. 

- Flora 

There are 2200 species of placts ir Y'zclsia. Of the 87C species of 

plarts that are rare, threateced or ecdenic jc Korth AfrSca (IUC!: 198C), 

15: 9cc.x ic Txisie, b~t the local cocservatioc stat..is is sckcowc for all 

of then. A t tk,e catjocal level there are 307 rare acd 99 very rsre 

placts. Of those 405 placts, 335 are distjcct species (cot sshspecies or 

forms), which Is :5 5 of the total flora. Tzcjsja's rare flora iccl~de 6 

species erdem5c to the co.xtry acd F: species e~denic to T!orth Africa acd 

the cortherc Sahare. Icdivid-el species ic ceed of protacti.oc are 

disccssed . 

Ya~y of the placts are valoable as a gecetic resozrce. Inportact 

forage placts (~(~rt.;s commzcis, 

Urglcea maritime, Daph~e - tecacisi=d 

placts of food val~e Cocservatior- acd 

research of the rere placts ecd geretic reso;;rces is dore by the Agrocomy 

Insti t-tes (I~AT, IHSAT) , Gecetic Beso-xces Cecter (IXRST), !Jat~re 

Protectioc Associatjor (ATPXE) acd the catioczl J:kB cormittee. 

- Fauca 

TccSsia he= szffered a drastic declice ic facca ic the past cectary. 

Abo,t '= sp~cSes of mammals, 400 species of birds, acd more thac 500 

species of herpes acd fish cac still be foucd. However, all of the large 

mammals are threateced, with the exceptioc of the wild boar Sas scrofa 

barbar~s. li0r.k seals (!;ocachus nocachzs) have almost beee extirpated. 

Several mammal speci es '(nostlyrware ecdemic to Korth Africa. Rare 

acd ecdacgered mammals ic the IUC9 Red Data Book (ic: Greet 1980) i~clsde: 

Barbary hyeca 

Barbary deer 

Dorcas gazelle 

Hyaecs hyaeca barbara 

Cervss elaphss barbarm 

Gazelle dorcas nassaesyla 

- G. c-vj eri 

C. l~ntocero~

Rare acd endacgered birds listed ic the Red Data Book (IUCC 1985) that 

occx ic Tucisia incliide: 

k'hite stork Peregrine 

Xarbled teal Acdo~ic's gull 

White-headed dack Red-cecked ctghtjar 

Red kj.te Hoiibara bastard 

White-tailed sea eagle Little bastard 

Bearded vultcre Slender-billed curlew 

To conserve the rare acd ecdacgered fauca, 32 mammal species and macy 

bird species were scbmjtted for icclusjon cnder the regclatiocs set by the 

Cocvectioc oc Ictercatiocal Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). The 

Forestry Directorate, Directorate of the Ecvironmect, ATPBE and Natiocal 

Orcithological Associatioc ( AAO) are icvolved ic cocservatioc activities. 

There are 7 major ecosystems ic Tccisia: coastal, islacd, vetlacd, 

mo~ctair., steppe, desert acd oasis. 

Ticisjags 1200 km af coest give it oce of the highest coast:scrface 

area ratios ic Africa. The earth caast is deep acd has inportact. 

fornatiacs af red coral reefs. Saztherc caastal areas are shallower and 

provide ictercatiocally importact feedicg areas for migraticg sharebirds. 

The ectire coastlice has a rich diversity of marine facca. Sight major 

islacd archipelagos acd several small islacds are distribcted alocg the 

coast. Islacds are ac icteresticg special hebjtat acd sane rare acd 

ecdezic species faced or the islacds icclude mock seals, rabbits, 

Acdo~ic's gclls acd Eleocora's falcacs. 

Of the mare thac 100 permacect acd temporary vetlacds, macy are of 

ictercatiacal impartacce. Each year more than 75,000 flamicgos, 400,000 

acatids (d~cks) acd 250,000 caots acd maorhecs use the uetlacd acd coastal 

areas. The wetlacds icclcde 7 large marjce lakes acd more thac 30 salt 

lakes (sebkhets acd chotts). Several freshwater wetlacds exist, iccludice 

at least 7 permac~ct acd macy seasacal lakes. Dar Fatma, R peat bog in 

the r3rthwest. has mary rare ard gzographically isolated plant species. 

Five major mocntai.~ systems coctaic most of the forests acd endemic 

plants of Tucisia. In the corthwest the ~hroeniriehogod mauctain chaics 

are the wettest part of the cocctry acd barbary deer live jc forests of 

cork oak Querccs s~;ber, zen oak Q. cacariensjs and the rare Q. afares. 

The High Tell acd Tiicisian Dorsal mocntaje racges shelter ecdacgered 

Cuvier's gazelles acd hyeca ic Picas halipecsjs/Qcerccs jlex forests. A 

few stacds af the rare maple tree Acer macs~esszlac~s occur ic the 

Tacisiac Dorsal acd thzya Calljtris articclata, a species wjth tropical 

afficities, is domicact ic the forests of Rori Korcice Tlatiocal Park. 

Mocctaics ic the High Steppes of cectral Tccjsia acd the Docjrat ma~ctaics 

of soitherc Tccisia are domicated by Jwjpercs acd other species 

character] st; c of degraded forests, jc which aasdad (barbary moictaic 

sheep) Anmatragis lervj a occGr. 

iii

Vast areas are domicated by steppe vegetatioc. The High Steppes rear 

Kasserice coctaic the decsest esparto grass Stiva teccacissiao of the 

cocctry acd a processicg plant has been cocstrccted make paper from 

esparto fibers. Wild boar .acd hyeca are commocly foccd ir the l!j.gh 

Steppes. Low Steppes, east of Sidi Bou Zid and in the Kairocac area are 

domicated by sage ~rtemesia acd Zizyphus lotus acd the halophjle 

vegetation of the many salt lakes distributed ic the regior. Threateced 

hocbara biistards nest in the low steppes. The last remaicicg remcacts of 

the sub-Sahara type savanna doni~ated by Acacia raddiaca trees are fomd 

ic the Scbdesertic Littoral Steppe at Bou Hedma. Addax, oryx and ostrich 

- extirpated in the past cectury - have beec re-iatroduced at Bou Hedma, 

and dorcas gazelles exist there and ic the region of Hamada. Ic the 

Subdesertic Coctice~tal Steppe, sage plaics grade to Rhactherium and 

Arthraphytsm plaics - the forner racge of several species of ~cgclates. 

The Sahara desert or Easterr. Cracd Erg are dominated by pseudo-forests 

of Cslligoc~m comosm acd the Gracd Rrg e~demics C. azel ard C. arich. 

There are more thar 2,500,000 ha of Sahara type desert ir. Txisia; if 

desertic steppes are icclcded the area is c.S,000,000 ha. 'Jegetatior 

removal acd wicd erosioc are iccreasicg the desert area by 18,000 ha each 

year. Ecdargered slecder-horced gazelles, the North Africer erdenic gccdi 

acd a wide variety of birds acd herpes are foucd ic the desert. 

Dispersed ic the steppes acd desert edges are more thar 75,000 ha of 

oasss. Ictecse cultivatioc restricts the natural vegetatjm, but some 

rare placts do occur. Few mammals tolerate the hjgh rate 9f hcmac 

activity ir the oases, bct the lush vegetatioc provides importact feedicg 

acd resticg sites for macy sedertary passerice acd migratory birds. 

Biological diversity data summaries are givec f ~ each r gxvercorat. 

Major Ecvirormertal Irf luecces 

Altho..igh the Tucisiac coast is one of the clearer parts sf the 

)lediterrarear sea, ~ctreated sewage acd chemically coctamirated wastewater 

are discharged ard garbage is dcmped icto the sea acd several salt lakes. 

Ictersive fishjcg activity acd coral harvesticg also disr~pts mary coastal 

ecosystems. 

Some of the most serious ecvirocmectal impacts are resclts of dam 

projects upstream from importact wetlacds. Two of the most importact 

wetlacds ic Tccisia, which are also very important oc ae ictercatjoeal 

level have beec drastically affected by dams. A decrease ic freshwater 

icflow has pct Lake Ichkeul in dacger of a major chacge ic salicity, which 

woiild severely reduce its value to waterfowl. Sebkhet Kelbia cow holds 

water for m~ch shorter periods of time than before the Nebhaca dan was 

built, thiis redccicg the time period for birds to hatch acd fledge. 

F~rest degradatioc is occ~rricg at an alarming rate or. 'the mocrtairs, 

acd ic macy areas esparto grass is beirg harvested for the paper plart 

faster than it cac regererate. Overgrazicg acd fcelwnod zrd fodder 

collectio~ also red~ces the groccd cover and accelerates erosi9~ acd 

desert5ficaticc. \!ith over 18,000 ha lost acc~allg to desertificatj OK, 

this nust be considered the prine ecological corcerc af TucSsSa.

Wacipclation of water resources for irrigatioc acd domestic iise is 

resolting ic the dessicatioc of some oases and dune formatioc is 

threatecicg others. Large areas of skeppe have beer. coltivat.ed, oftec 

~sicg equipmect scch as disc plows ic icappropriate areas, which leads to 

vind erosioc acd diice fornatioc. 

' Habitat loss and poaching are serioiisly threatening much of the 

cational fauca. Chances for recuperation of the mock seal Mocach~s 

mocachcs pop~latioc are slim, biit recect protectioc efforts have showc 

eccouragice results for gazelles, aoudad, barbary deer acd hyeca. 

Protectior 

Forestry code law l!o. 66-60 provides the leeal basis for establishire 

protected rese-ves ard cational parks. There are ccrrectly 5 natiocal 

parks, 2 proposed catiocal parks acd 9 reserves protecting some of the 

nost importact ecosystems of Txisia. There are also recommecdetiocs for 

the establishnect of :9 edditiocal protected areas (IUC;: t987). A goal of 

the program is to have a cntiocal park represectice each of the major 

ecosystem of Tccisia. So fer islacd embr bra) , wetlacd (Ichke~l) , thoyz 

mouctaic forest (9oi ~orcice) , aleppo pice mouctaic forest (Chambi ) , acd 

arid m~~ictaic/~se;do-savacca (B~L ~edma) ecosystems are represected acd 

the cext 2 areas ceder cocsideratioc represect oak forest (21 ~eidja) and 

desert (~idi Toci - ~amada) ecosystems. 

?bst rational parks already have macagemect placs with itenized 

biidgets acd ocly need additiocal staff acd ficacces to inplenect the 

placs. Urfortscately , bcdget problems have reduced cati ocal park 

macagemect to a micinm of protectioc acd little p~blic cse is allowed. 

Desigcatioc of a protected area car also be overr~led by other interests, 

as ic the case of the Lake 3snis Protected Vetlard, which is c~rrectly 

beicg filled for developmect. 

There are a comber of wetlacds acd mocctaics protected from hccticg, 

ard special zoces where grazing is prohibited or ocly allowed ic years of 

extreme forage shortages. Tar5 sia is sigratory to the Vorld ??eri.tage 

conve~tioc (1 975), Ramsar cocvectioc (: 976) acd the Earcelocs cscvectioc 

(1977). 

Bi'ological Diversitv Protecti.oc Needs 

Additiocal protectioc is needed to stem the degradatioc of biological 

div ersity ic T~cisia. To establish a base for flora protectioc, it wocld 

be advisable to icvectory the catiocal flora, establish a Katiocal 

herbari.~m acd create a botacic garder. The fama are ic reed of 

protectioc through the improvemer.t of law ecforcemect capabilities acd 

coctrol of illegal commerce ic wildlife products. 

h'hile the ictect of the protected area system is well foicdod acd is 

of greet inportacce for the preservatioc acd echarcenect of SSoloqlcal 

diversity, there is a desperate ceed for additi ocal fxdic~, treiced staff 

acd eqliipnect. The natiocal parks are also ic need of ir,prmed piblic 

access.

Effective pollctioc coctrol legislatioc should be passed, ecforcemect 

strecgtheced acd the techcology acd meam to comply with the legislation 

shocld be made available to the major pollction sources (chemical 

icdsstries, p~blic sewage and trash systems). Marine ecosystems are in 

reed af iccreased protectioc; especially for the coral reefs, mock seals 

acd ictercatiorally importact Gulf of Gabes ictertidal eoces. 

Ichkezl National Park is in immediate danger of drastic changes in its 

ecosystems, to the detriment of macy species of ecdangered or vulnerable 

birds and rare placts. Ameltoratioc projects have beec proposed, but 

fucds for implementatioc are lacking. Sebkhet Kelbia is also in need of 

actioc (water releases from upstream reservoirs) and it would echacce 

biological diversity to iccrease protectioc for the Dar Fatma bog acd Oued 

Essed pools 

Increased pratectioc of El Feidja, Djebel Zaghoiiac acd Djebel Ichke~l 

uocl? be desirable. Tropical forest. acd mocctaic habitat cocld be 

echa~ced by ass9 stir6 wj th Bou Korrine Ha tj anal Park. 

A~tl-desertificatioc projects, s;ch as dcce stabjlization and 

refarestatlor shauld be increased accardicg to the Natiocal Ar-ti- 

desertifjcatiar. Strategy ard ic a macrer compatible with the catsral 

ecosgstens (?rqer specj es selectioc).

PART I 

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Tccisja 'the ereec' was occe the breadbasket of the Romac Empire. Ac 

enazicg diversity of ecosystems end acimals existed, iccl~ding ljocs, 

barbary apes, and elephacts and savannas similar to those ic scb-Saharac 

Africa. The ecvirocmect has changed drastically sicce the R~mac era, b ~ t 

there is still a wide ranee of ecosystems coctaicicg diverse fama acd 

flora. 

Ic this siirvey, the flora and fauna are be discussed, followed by 

descriptiocs of the sevec primary ecosystems (coastal zones, islacds, 

wetlacds, mocctains, steppes, desert acd oases) and their biological 

compocects, as well as the icflcecces on them. Summary sheets for each 

gouverr.orat are cross-referecced to the sectiocs on ecosystems. The 

sectioc on biological diversity protectioc includes ageccies icvloved, 

legislatioc, sites acd ceeds. 

The biological diversity of Tucisia evokes mixed responses. It is 

fascicaticg whec viewed ic its entirety, somewhat disheartecj.ng whec 

compared to what it once was acd eccourag5.r.g whec viewed ic light of the 

res~lts of some recect protectioc efforts. Ucfortccately, for every site 

protected, macy more are threateced, so coctinced efforts must be made to 

preserve the precious natural heritage of Tu~iaie.

2. BACKGROUND INFOREATIOC ON TUNISIA 

2.1 . THE COUNTRY 

Betveec Algeria acd Ljbya 5s Tucisia, the coiictry with the 

corthercmost extecsioc ic Africa. The smallest of the Haghreb cations 

(16 millioc hectares), Tiicisia has a rich cultural acd social heritage, 

as well as a diversity of catural ecosystems. Macy empires have played a 

role ic the history of Tunisia, racgicg from Phoenicians through the 

Romans, Byzactices, Arabs and Ottomac Turks, to the French. Uclike the 

other Maghreb catiocs, the Arab icvasiocs in Tunjsia were so thorough that 

the origical Berber popdatioc cow ocly represects 1 % of the total; 

cocficed mainly to the moiir.taics in the northwest and the dry soiitherc 

parts of the couctry. The total cat.ioca1 populatioc ic mid-:985 was 

7,259,000. 

Xbo~t 355 of Picisia's labor force is icvolved ic agricdtiire; growing 

wheat, barley, olives acd cltriis fruit (76 of arable lard) or raising 

sheep, goats, cattle acd camels. Thus, 25% of Tiicisia is cultivated acd 

grazicg ccccs OE nost xc.ilt:vated acd ucdeveloped lard. 

2.2. CLIMATE 

I?-e to the varied topDgraphy, extecsjve coastline, long !I-S axis acd 

the presecce of the Sahara desert, the climatic cocditiocs of Tucisia vary 

greatly thro~gho~t. the coiictry. Yearly raicfalls vary from a few 

millineters Ic the soiith to over 7500 mm ic the cortherc moiictaics. 

Raicfall is nost. ab::cdart ic spricg and autumc, with the lowest percentage 

ic snrnmer. Scow falls or macy of the higher mouctaic peaks, biit 

csually melt.s ic 2 matter of days. 

o 

Tem erat.;res vary from below 0 C duricg wicter ic the moiictaics to 

8 

over 50 ic the snmer south of Cafsa. However, ic most of the couctry 

the tenpsrat~res are noderated by the Mediterraceac Sea. Temperature and 

precip5 tatioc deta for locatiocs ic each goiivercorat ( admicistrative 

district) are giver ic Table 1. 

Wicds are also affected by the Hediterraceac, and daily lard breezes 

acd sea breezes occur along most of the coast, as well as frequent 

strocger wicds. Ac inportact wicd-related climate factor is the 

occcrrecce of Sirocco virds, which are hot, dry wicds from the Sahara that 

dessicate vegetatioc acd soils in the summer. 

A system of classifyicg temperatiire acd precipitatioc data, used 

widely Sc the literat~re oe !lorth Africac biological diversity is that of 

bioclinetes. Bi oclimates are based or temperature and precipi tatioc data 

zsicg Fkberger's ?iotj ect , obtaiced bg the followirg form~la :

where p = Mean annual precipitation 

M = Wean maximum temperature of the hottest month 

m = Mean minimum temperature of the coldest month 

(temperatures in degrees ~elvin) 

Embergeras Quotient is used to assign bioclimate categories in the 

following manner: 

If Q is: 

> 110 

then the bioclimate is: 

Humid (HI 

subhumid- (SH) 

Semi-arid Superior (SAS) 

Semi-arid Inferior (SAI ) 

Arid Superior (AS) 

Arid Inferior (AI) 

Saharan Superior (SS) 

Saharan Inferior (sI) 

Variants of the above bioclimates are separated according to the 

average minimum temperatures of the coldest month (in degrees ~elsius), as 

below: 

If m is: then the winter variant is: 

> 7 hot 

mild 

temperate 

cool

Table 1. 

Climate and Bioclimate Data for Several Locations in Tunisia 

Location P T m YI B 

Beja 

Jendouba 

Ain Draham 

El Feidja 

Tabarka 

Calite 

Le Kef 

Skliana 

Maktar 

Bizerte 

Ichkeul 

Nabeul 

Zembra 

Tunis 

Zaghouar. 

Kairouan 

Kasserine 

Chambi 

Skdi Bou Zid 

Bou Hedma 

Mahdia 

Monastir 

Kuriate 

Sousse 

Enfidaville 

Sfax 

Kerkemah 

Cabes 

Matmata 

Cafsa 

Kebili 

Medenine 

Jerba 

Douirat 

Bahiret el Bibane 

Ta taouine 

Remada 

Grand Eastern Erg 

Tozeur 

P = Mear, annual precfpitationo(rnm) 

T = Mean annual Temperature ( C) 

0 

m = Mean min. temp. of coldest month (o~) 

M = Mean max. temp. of hottest morth ( C) 

B = Bioclimate 

H = Humid 

SH = Subhumid 

SAS = Semi-arid Superior 

SH, t 

SAS, t 

H, t 

H - SH,t 

H,m 

SH - SA 

SAS , c 

SAS, t 

SA, c 

SH,m 

SH,h 

SAS , h 

SH , t-m 

SAS , m 

SAS-SH, t 

AS, t 

AS, c 

AS-SH , c 

AS, t 

A,c 

SAI ,h 

SAI , h 

SAI , m 

SAI ,m 

SAI ,m 

AS ,m 

SA,h 

AI,h 

A1 ,m 

AI,c 

SS, c 

A1 ,m 

A, h-m 

A,t 

AS,m 

AI,t 

SS, t 

S1,c 

SS,c 

SAI = Semi-arid Inferior 

AS = Arid Superior 

A1 = Arid Inferior 

SS = Saharar Superkor 

SI = Saharan Irferior 

h = hot winter variant 

m = mild wicter var. 

t = temperate wicter var. 

c = cool winter var.

2.3. FLORA 

The vascular plants of Tunisia represent 115 families, 742 genera and 

approximately 2200 species. Of the 115 families, 4 are represented by 

more than 100 species (~abli 1987): 

Asteraceae (254 species) Craminae ( 197) 

Papilionaceae (21 6) Cruciferae (108) 

A national total of 2200 species is fairly high compared to the adjacent 

countries of Algeria (3150 species) and Libya (1800 species), both of 

which are several times larger in area than Tunisia. 

. The lack of high mountains in Tunisia has limited the evolution of 

endemic plants to a total of 34, of which 14 are distinct species (figure 

1 ) and 20 are infraspecific (~abli 1987). There are several other plants 

that may be endemic to Tunisia, but insufficient information is knoun of 

their range to be certain. The total number of true endemics is not 

likely to be much over 50, which is considerably less than the number in 

Algeria and Libya (approximately 250 and 134 endemics, respectively - 

Heywood 1987). 

Of 870 species of plants that are rare, threatened or endemic in North 

Africa (IUCN 1980), 151 occur in Tunisia. The current local conservation 

status is unknown for most of them and all have been insufficiently 

documented for final status designation. At the national level, there are 

307 rare and 99 very rare plants (~nnex 1). Of those 406 plants, 335 are 

distinct species (not subspecies or forms), which is 15% of the flora. In 

Algeria, rare plants constitute 33% of the total. Tunisia's rare flora 

include 7 species endemic to the country (figure 1) and 81 species endemic 

to North Africa and the northern Sahara. About 60% of ~unisia's rare 

plants occur in the north and 32% occur in the center and south. 

Figure 1 

Plant Species Endemic to Tunisia 

v Teucrium radicans v Linaria paradoxa 

r Pancratum foetidum r L. cossoni 

r Sporobolus tourneuxii r Crepis tunetana 

Marrubium aschersonii Scabiosa farinosa 

Plantago tunetana Silene barrattei (IUCN 1980) 

r Lathyrus brachyodus Rumex tune tanus 

VI 

Anarrhinum brevifolium Paronychia chabloziana "

Important factors influencing the rare plants (~abli 987 ) include : 

- wetland draining and dam construction, which dessicate 

important plant habitats; 

- herbicides, especially aerial applications; and 

- urbac expansion. 

or flood 

Although there is a fairly good data base, information on the flora is 

in need of completion, correction and updating. The two main floras of 

Tunisia (cuenod 1954, Pottier-Alapetite 1979) are both incomplete. A 

complete national inventory is needed to provide comparative information 

for international cooperation in conservation strategies. At the very 

least, a complete checklist of the national flora should be prepared 

(~eywood 1987 ) . The Conservation Monitoring Centre ( CMC) of the 

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) can give advice 

on inventories and the preparation of checklists and they maintain 

worldwide computerized plant databases, which is helpful in determining 

endemism, rarity and conservation priorities. 

In the process of a national inventory, it would also be desirable to 

collect specimens and establish a complete national herbarium for proper 

documentation and to serve as a reference for other research. Herbariums 

already exist at the agronomy institutes, but they are not complete or 

easily accessed. Assessments should also be made of the species actual or 

potential economic value, both for traditional and modern uses. Scattered 

references on plant uses are available (ex. Le floc'h 1983, Burollet 

19271, bat they should be consolidated to provide complete information for 

determicing genetic resource conservation priorities. 

2.3.1. Genetic Resources 

The term 'genetic resources' is used here to denote plants of actual 

or potectial economic value. This includes, but is not limited to, native 

crop species, crop relatives, forestry species, forage plants, oil or 

fiber plants, aromatics and medicinal lants. Forestry species are 

described in Part I1 (~ropical Forests 7 . The wide array of traditional 

uses of macy plants is too much to be discussed in total here, so only 

partial lists are given. Le floc'h (1983) and Burollet (1927) give more 

complete lists of current and traditional plant uses. 

A. Crop Species and Relatives 

Wild olive europaea oleaster is a native tree that is cultivated 

for its olives or used as root stock, to which better producing varieties 

are grafted. The wild olive is hardier than domestic varieties and can 

withstand harsher climatic conditions. It is widespread in northern 

Tunisia and occurs on many mountains in central Tunisia. In addition to 

its crop value, wild olives are also grazed by livestock. 

Carob Ceratonia siliqua is a tree that has become naturalized in 

Tunisia. The seed pods can be used to produce a chocolate substitute,

industrial alcohol or wine, and tragasol (locust bean gum). Traditional 

uses inclade survival food for the poor, livestock fodder, and tannin 

productioc. Tucisia is one of the world's top 8 producers of carob 

(~erwi~ 1981 ) . Wild carob is distributed throughout most, of non-desert 

Tunisia, usually scattered in associations of wild olive az~d Pistacia 

- lentiscus (0lea-lentiscus formations). Carob is also one of the few trees 

in Tunisia with tropical affinities (see Part 11, Tropical ~orests). 

Wild blackberry Rubus ulmifolius is often grown in gardens for its 

fruit. It produces well in favorable conditions and wild bushes are 

sometimes harvested. Wild blackberries are most common along streams and 

watersheds and can be found in brush fields and hedges in, and north of, 

the Tunisiac Dorsal moantain range. 

Wild grape Vitis vinifera ssp. silvestris and subspontaneous domestic 

grapes Vitis vicifera ssp. sativa occur along streams and in humid ravines 

ir! the ~roarnlm-d mountains and Cap Bon, or in abandonned gardens. 

The fraits of the wild grapes are eaten acd could be valuable for hybrid 

crossicgs. 

There era other placts ic Tunisia that are not actual crop species, 

but have rdibli parts that are collected for consumption by people or 

livestock. Thosa species icclude: 

Qaercas saber (cork oak): acorcs for forage 

-- 4. ili~ (holm oak) : acorns for forage and human cocsumptioc 

Arbat~s ucedo: edible fruits - commercial sales 

Crataigus sp. (hawthore) : edible fruits 

Picus halepansis (aleppo pine) : edible seeds - commercial sales 

B. Aromatic and Nedicicel Plants 

Mary types of placts, or parts of them, are harvested for their aroma, 

flavor or medicical properties. Traditional uses cover a wide spectrum 

acd the presence of herbalists at most local markets shows that wild 

plants are still commocly used. 

Some plants, such as jasmine Jasminum fruticans have fragrant flowers 

that are collected to produce perfumes, or oils that are distilled and 

sold (~rica sp. ) . Other plants, including rosemary Rosmarinus 

off icinalis , thyme Thymus sp. , oregano Origan sp. and capers Capparis 

spinosa are used as spices in cooking. In 1984, approximately 58,000 ha 

of rosemary acd 4,500 ha of capers were harvested. 

Medicical uses of plant parts is a well established practice. While 

modern medicines have replaced many of the traditional remedies, people 

withoat the meacs to buy, or access to, commercial medicices still rely 

on, acd sone prefer, medicical plarts. A wide variety of plants are used 

(figare 2) to cure ailmerts ranging from headaches, stomach aches and 

diarrhea to curicg infectio~s and easing childbirth. Pharmacists 

throaghout the world have stadied the chemical nature of medicinal plants 

ic order t3 discover new drugs or improve others. In Tunisia, studies

have been made of medicinal plants (~abli 1987) such as: 

A juga iva Urginea maritima 

Zygophyllum album Nerium oleander 

Daphne gnidium 

Export of medicinal plants is also a source of foreign exchange. Oil 

from Myrtus communis is highly valued in some european countries. Each 

year, branches are cut from thousands of ha (9,000 in 1984) of Hyrtus for 

extraction of oil reputed to help treat rheumatism and other ailments. 

C. Fiber Plants 

Vegetable fiber is obtained from dwarf palm Chamaerops humilis. In 

1975 over 350 metric tons of dwarf palm leaves were harvested at a value 

of 30,000 Tunisian Dinars. Valuable leaves and somewhat slow regeneration 

make dwarf palm sensitive to overharvesting. It is a species warranting 

special attention to ensure its continued abundance. 

Esparto grass Stipa tenacissima (also called alfa grass) is a fibrous 

plant, used traditionally for weaving. A modern use of large quantities 

of esparto fiber is the production of high quality paper. Paper mills in 

Kasserini use such great quantities of esparto grass that more than half 

of the esparto grasslands of Tunisia are exploited. Esparto regenerates 

fairly well, but overharvesting followed by grazing or cultivation has 

lead to serious degradation of the grasslands in many areas. 

D. Forage Plants 

Many of ~unisia's grazing lands are degraded and occupied by poor 

quality forage plants. Some plants, such as Saccharum ravennae and 

Andropogon sp. are becoming rare due to o v e r g m a b l i 1987). In 

desertic areas, important sand-fixing species are being decreased with 

serious consequecces to the ecosystem. Pasture improvement and rational 

grazicg strategies are needed throughout Tunisia. Pastures can be 

improvsd by improving the water regime and nutrients of an area, and by 

increasing high quality forage species. 

The developmect of high quality forage plants is a concern of several 

icternatiocal organizations and seed companies. Attention has been 

focused on producing hybrids of several types of highly palatable and 

nutritional plants. To determine favorable forage plants for cultivation 

and produce optimum hybrids, a large number of species are being tested 

and efforts are being made to inventory the geographic distribution and 

availability of some of the more desirable genera. The International 

Bureau for the Protection of Genetic Resources is currently conducting 

such a study on the genus Medicago. Tunisia's flora includes many species 

of plants in genera of interest, including 24 species of Medica~o, 34 

species of Trifolium, 6 species of Hedysanun (two of which are of high 

interest for local propagation) and many subspecies of these and other 

forage plants (Festuca, Dactylis, etc.). 

Many spsciis in Tunisia are of high forage value without hybridization 

and need only be increased in suitable ecosystems (ex. Hedysarum 

carnosum). Nabli (1987) suggested the propagation of several species of

Figure 2 

Examples of Medicinal Plant Species 

(in part from Burrolet 1927, Nabli 1987) 

Anthemis sp. 

Asphodelis sp. 

Bryocia dioica 

Callitris articulata 

Capparis spinosa 

Daphne gnidium 

Eruca sativa 

Erica sp. 

Ficus carica 

Globularia alypum 

Hyoscyamus albus 

Lavandula multifida 

Nerium oleander 

Peganum harmala 

Pistacia lentiscus 

Portulaca oleracea 

Reseda alba 

Rosmarinus of ficinalis 

Solanum sodomaeum 

Tamarix sp. 

Urginea maritima 

Zizyphus vulgaris 

Artemisia sp. 

Ajuga iva 

Centaurium sp. 

Cuppressus sempervirecs 

Cynomorium coccineam 

Echinops bovei 

E. spinosus 

Euphorbia sp. 

Fumaria sp. 

Habiscus esculentus 

Lawsonia alba 

Myrtus commucis 

Opuntia ficus-indica 

Phoe~ix dactylifera 

Plantago ep. 

Punica granatum 

Retama raetam 

Ruta graveolsns 

Thapsia gargacica 

Urtica sp. 

Verbascum sinuatum 

Zygophyllum album

forage plants that have 

Graminees : 

Papilionaceaes: 

Cruciferae: 

Ulmaceae: 

2.3.2. Species in Need 

Of the 406 rare and 

dimicished to the point 

become uncommon in Tunisia, such as: 

Themeda triandra 

Festuca dryme ja 

Bonjeania recta 

Onobrychis argentea africana 

Anthyllis barba- jovis 

Brassica cretica ssp. atlantica 

Celtis australis 

of Protection 

very rare plants in Tunisia, some have been 

that they merit special protection measures to 

prevent their disappearance from the country. a he preservation of a 

species in a country requires more than just saving some specimens in 

gardens or artificial reserves; the characteristic ecosystem and 

associated plants must also be preserved in an area large enough to ensure 

genetic viability. 

Tree species are somewhat difficult to preserve or expand in Tunisia, 

due to thc great demand for fuelwood and fodder. However. certain species 

have been reduced to scattered groves and their continued presence in 

Tunisia is uncertaic unless assistance is given. 

Acacia raddiana is a highly palatable tree species. During the Roman 

era the entire south of Tunisia was covered by acacias in the plains, 

giving it an appearance similar to Sudan or sub-Saharan Africa (P. Boudy 

in: ORSTOM 1962). By 1889 only 35,000 ha of the acacia pseudo-savanna 

were left; by 1921 it was reduced to 25,000 ha and only 5,000 ha remained 

in 1938. Today there are only about 10 ha of truly representative Acacia 

raddiana pseudo-savanna left (~ir. For. 1980). with some scattered trees 

elsewhere in the region. The trees are now protected on more than 60,000 

ha for the slow process of allowing them to become re-established in the 

region around Bou Hedma called 'Bled Talha'. 

- Acer monspessulanum is a rare maple tree that grows at the summits of 

Djebel Zaghouan, Dj. Bargou and Dj. Serdj in the Tunisian Dorsal mountain 

range. Groves at all 3 sites are relatively small. If cutting were to 

occur, regeneration would be made difficult by the fact that the young 

trees are palatable forage. Although probably never widespread in 

Tunisia, the species merits special protection in its present range. 

Cupressus sempervirens numidica, or Maktar cypress, only exists 

naturally ic three small stands in the Kessera massif near Maktar (see 

Part 11, Tropical ~orests). Although it is planted widely as a windbreak 

tree, the three natural stands should be protected. 

Quercus afares is a rare oak that once probably grew as a vast forest 

in Tunisia and Algeria. Of the three remaining groves in Tunisia, the one 

at El Feidja may be protected as part of a national park (see Section 

3.4.1 .I, acd 5.4), but the grove at Ain Zana is still in need of serious 

protectioc.

Two other trees of the Kroumirie mowtaics that are ic ceed of 

protection are Juglacs regia and Prunus avhm (~ablj 1987). B~th species 

are scattered acd cot easily protected by the creation of special 

reserves. Therefore, restrtctiocs oc cutticg and clearicg must be 

strocgly ecforced. 

Hablj (1987) recommecded that protection be givec to the following: 

- - Calligocun azel: a Saharac 'tree' in need of protection from grazing 

acd charcoal makhg; 

- Cyclamen persicwn: 6 very rare plant ic need of protection from being 

transplanted into pots; 

- Euphorbia decdroides: in need of protectioc at Djebel Zaghouac; 

- Phyllitis decdroides and P. scolopecdrium: rare fercs in need of 

protectioc from being collected for pottiag. 

2.3.3. Protectioc Ageccies 

Cocservatioc of plant resources is the respocsibility of the Forestry 

Directorate ard the Directorate of the Ecvirocmert. The Nature Protectior 

Associatioc acd the cetiocal Kac acd Biosphere (1.1~~) committee olso make 

reconn~rdztiorx for ceedfd actiocs. Research on placts of gecetic value 

is doce acd herba~ims have beec started by the agrocomy instit~tes (INAT, 

ITEX" aed the Gecetic Resoorces Cecter of the Institute of Scientific 

Research (IGRST). A seed baed at Ariaca (~ucis) with a field statioc at 

Ka;ro;er is czrrectly maictaiced for the prodoctioc acd storage of forest 

acd rzzge plect seeds. 

Xdditiocal protection could be givec to rare placts and placts of 

gecetlc value by iecreasjcg and improvicg the seed back acd creating a 

natiocal botacical gardec. Improvemect of the seed back is iccluded as 

part of the I.'atiocal Acti-desertificatioc Strategy (~ic. Agr. 1985). 

Botecical gardecs serve as a gece back, research site acd statioc for 

ictrodxicg placts to coltivation (~epood 1987). These roles are 

espec5elly valuable for crop relatives acd medicinal placts. The IUCN has 

a Boteric Carders Cocservatioc Secretariat based at its CMC at Kew, 

Erglard. The Secretariat would be helpful acd supportive of plans for a 

botaclcel gardec jr Tucisia.

2.4 FAUNA 

Currently, about 75 species of mammals (~nnex 21, 350 species of birds 

(~nnex 3) and more than 500 species of herpes and fish occur in Tunisia 

(~ir. For. 1976). Exact figures are difficult to determire, since new 

species continue to be discovered, others are extirpated or reintroduced, 

and taxonomic classifications change. A number of species have been lost 

from the mammalian fauna of Tunisia and several others are in danger. 

2.4.1. Mammals 

Over 7,000 years ago, a change in the climate of Tunisia resulted in 

the loss of many species of animals, including rhinoceroes. Since that 

time almost all extirpations of mammal species have been due to hunting 

and habitat changes caused by man. Elephants Loxodocta africaca still 

existed during the Roman era and were recorded in the 1st century A.D. 

(IUCN 1987) at Bled Talah, near Bou Hedma. More recently, ic the 18001s, 

there were still a wide variety of ungulates and large cats. Barbary 

lions Pacthera leo leo lived in the Tunisian Dorsal mouctain racge in the 

1850s '(Monchicourt 1906), but the last one was shot at Babouch in 1891 

(~ir. For. 1931 ). Only 34 years later, the last barbary leopard Panthera 

~ardus was killed (IUCN 1987) and by 1931 cheetahs Acinoryx jubatus were 

reduced to a few in the extreme south, which have since been eliminated. 

Duricg the French occupation of Tu~isia, ungulate populations were 

decimated by hunters. Although hartebeasts Alcelaphus buselaphus were 

still abundant in the south in 1870, no verified reports of their presence 

were recorded after 1931. Scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah and addax 

- Addax nasomaculatus were uncommon, but still hunted in the Sahara in 1931. 

Soon after, both species were decreased to a few animals, thee extirpated. 

The barbary deer Cervus elaphus barbarus is the only native species of 

deer in africa. Large numbers of barbary deer were hunted and killed 

(many by American soldiers during WWII), but their secretive catare and 

mountain habitat protected small populations until the 1950s. After the 

deer became protected, they dispersed back into Tunisia from Algeria 

(where they were still hunted) in the 1960s. There are three barbary deer 

reserves in Tunisia - El Feidja, Ain Baccouch and Mhibes (see Section 

5.4). The total deer population of Tunisia is now somewhere around 1,500. 

Tunisia's three species of gazelles were decimated by hurting, 

poaching and habitat degradation, but were never completely extirpated. 

Cuvier's gazelles Gazella cuvieri were reduced to a small number at the 

southwest end of the Tunisian Dorsal mountain range, but once they were 

protected, additional animals immigrated from Algeria and reinhabited some 

of their former range. There is a reserve at Kechem el Kelb for Cuvier's 

gazelles and many others find refuge ic Chambi N.P. (section 3.4.3.1 1. 

Dorcas gazelles ~azella dorcas once inhabited the plains of Kairouac, but 

they are cow restricted to the southern plains, where hucticg pressure is 

compoucded by habitat loss to desertification. Slender-horced gazelles 

Gazella leptoceros are abli to survive the harsh climatic cocditions of

the Sahara and desertic steppes. Although probably never numerous, 

elender-horned gazelles became quite rare in the recent past. Currectly, 

ecattered populations have been increasing in number. 

Whether on not buffalo Bubalis bubalis are truly native to Tunisia is 

uncertaic, but doubtful. However, it is believed that there were buffalo 

at Ichkeul in Carthaginian times and there were about 1,000 in 1882 (~1- 

Ghezal 1982). After uncontrolled hunting, only 3 buffalo remained in 

1961. Protection measures were taken and a reproduction program was 

started at Dar Chichou to increase the herd. 

Aoudad hUm0tra~uS lervia (also known as barbary mountain eheep) were 

once foucd on almost all of the mountains of south-central Tunisia; 

especially Djebels Chambi, Selloum, Semmama, Bou Hedma, Berda, Oum Ali and 

Tebaga (~avaudec 1924). Hunting eliminated the aoudad from many of the 

mountaics, but small groups survived near Chambi, Bou Hedma, Tebaga, etc. 

and once protectioc was given, the slow process of reproduction and 

disperslor, begac. The recolo~ization of former range is hampered by 

hucticg ard habitat degradation. 

If berbary hyeca Hyaeca hyaana barbara were not completely sliminated 

from T.~cisie ic the past, their numbers were reduced to very few animals. 

Dispersioc from hyeca populations in Algeria started the populatioc of 

hyecas ic Tacisia increasing. Today, hyenas are spreading north and 

eastward alocg the Tunisian Dorsal, High Tell and High Steppe relatively 

rapidly. the animals are becoming locally numerous, especially in the 

Kasserice regioc. 

Nor-k seals Mocachus mocachus were once found on Tunisia's north coast, 

Zembra island acd Cap ~ o m h i e 1978). r Today, the only location in 

Tunisia where that ecdangered mammal is found is the Galite archipelago 

(~ectioc 3.2.1 1. An English expedition in 1978 found only 5 adults and 

one juvenile at the archipelago (~osser 1978). Although the secretive 

cature of the seals may have resulted in an underestimation of the number, 

it is not likely that there were more than 10 seals at that time. The low 

numbar caused concerc that there would be an ultimate breeding collapse 

due to lack of genetic diversity. A decrease in sightings in recent years 

has added to the coccern for the seals. Only one monk seal was observed 

at Galite in 1986 (IUCN 1987) and it is not likely that the population 

will recover on its om.. 

European rabbits Oryctolams cuniculus originated in North Africa and 

then spread into West Europe. A North African subspecies 0. c. a1 irus 

lives on three of Tunisia's archipelagos (Galite, Zembra, K u r i a i h is 

possible that the rabbits may have been brought to the islands by 

Phoeniciacs (Gaulthier 1978) as a food reserve, or they may have crossed 

land bridges from the mainland when the seas were lower during glacial 

periads. There are no rabbits on the mainland today, so this North 

African ecdemic subspecies is of special interest as a genetic resource. 

Othir animals of interest include rare otters Lutra lutra, which occur 

ir the lakes acd rivers of northerc Tucisia; wild boar Sus scrofa 

barbans, which are numerods north of the High Steppe and sparse in the 

southerc mountaice; acd a shrew Suncus etruscus that is said to be the 

smallest mammal ic the world.

All of the large mammals of Tunisia are threatened, with the exception 

of the wild boar. The boar is a hardy animal that is unwittingly 

protected by the Islamic prohibition on eating pork. Rare and endangered 

mammals listed for Tunisia in the IUCN Red Data Book (in: Grant 1980) 

include the barbary hyena, barbary deer, dorcas gazelle, Cuvier's gazelle 

and slender-horned gazelle. 

Several mammal subspecies are endemic to North Africa; these include 

rabbits and the larger mammals, such as barbary deer, barbary hyena and 

(according to some) the Ichkeul buffalo. Full species of mammals endemic 

to North Africa are all rodents and are noted in Annex 2. 

2.4.2. Birds 

Tu~isia's avian fauna includes North African endemic (Moussier's 

redstart) acd sub-Saharan (black-headed bush shrike) species as well as 

many that are threatened throughout their range. Rare and endangered 

birds listed in the Red Data Book (IUCN 1985) that occur in Tunisia 

icclildi : 

White stork Peregrine 

Marbled teal Audouin ' s gull 

White-headed duck Red-necked night jar 

Red kite Houbara bustard 

White-tailed sea eagle Little bustard 

Bearded vulture Slender-billed curlew 

Little b~stards are listed because they once occurred in northern 

Tunisia, and still may, but their status is uncertain. Ostriches were 

extirpated from Tunisia earlier this century, but they have been 

reintroduced at Bou Hedma National Park (section 5.4.4). Griffon 

vultures, bearded valtures and white-tailed sea eagles were hunted in the 

beginning of the cectury and are now very rarely seen in Tunisia. 

One of the most important sites for migrating raptors and passerine 

birds is the Cap Bon pecinsula. Cap Bon is an internationally important 

bottleneck area for migratory birds in the Mediterranean region r rim met 

1987). Aboat 40,000 raptors of over 20 species rest at Cap Bon before 

crossing the Mediterranean sea to Sicily in the spring. The most common 

species reported are honey buzzard, black kite, buzzard, marsh harrier, 

lesser kestrel and kestrel. Many passerines also rest at Cap Bon before 

making the 150 km flight. Large numbers of sparrowhawks were formerly 

captured for use in quail hunting, but this practice has been restricted 

to a very small number today. 

Tucisia also has sites of very high international importance for 

waterfowl acd waders. The most important sites are Lake Ichkeul, the Gulf 

of Gabes and Sebkhet Kelbia, described in Sections 3.3.1.1, 3.l.4 and 

3.3.2.4, r+spectively.

2.4.3. Hunticg 

The Hscticg Department (Service de la ~hasse) of the Forestry 

Directorate is respocsible for the orgacizatioc of hccticg ic Tixisja. 

This icvolves deterrnicing species to be h~cted, dates of opecicg acd 

closicg of seasocs, locatiocs where hucticg is to be allowed acd 

acceptable hwting methods and equipment. The Forestry Directorate is 

also responsible for the ecforcemect of h~cting reg~latiocs. H-ictj.cg 

clubs are orgacieed ic each gouvernorat, and mazy play an important role 

ic promoticg wildlife conservatioc. 

IL 1933, 11,076 h;lr.ticg licecses were sold and 590 metric tocs of game 

meat were prod~ced ic additioc to trophies. This anoccted to 1.2 millioc 

T~cisiac Dicars, or 10s of the total valse of forestry related products 

harvested. The amouct has docbled ic the followicg years. 

I.!ild boars are especially poplilar game with foreiec hmters. Other 

h~cted game iccl~des: 

3rovc hare 

Algerlac hedgehog 

Barbbry partridge 

Q;;a i 1 

Sacd gro>sse 

T~rtle dove 

Stock dove 

Xmd Pigear. 

2.4.4. Pauca Protectjoc 

Greylag goose 

Pictaj 1 

Shoveler 

Eallard 

Wigeor 

Teal 

Gargarey 

Pochard 

Tlifted dsck 

!!oorhec 

Coot 

Uoodcock 

Plovers 

Lapwicg 

Lsrks 

Rock dove 

H~cticg rare ard roc-game species is prohibited. To cocserve the rare 

acd ecdacgered fa~ca, 32 mammal species acd macy bird species were 

scbmitted for icclcsioc ccder the reg~letiocs set by the Cocvectioc oc 

Icterratiocal "ade of Zcdacgered Specj es (CITES). There are also nacy 

cztjo~al parks acd reserves (Sectioc 5.4) acd approxjmately oce-third of 

the COir.try is closed to hscticg each year. 

The Forestry Directorate, Directorate of the Ecvirocmect, Tucjsian 

Matiire Protectioc Association (ATPIIE) and the catiocal orcithological 

associatio~ (AAO) are all involved in cocservatioc activities (see Sectioc 

5.4). The AAO was especially icstrcnectal in gajcicg protectjoc for 

nigraticg raptors oc Cap Boc. 

A cane wardec (earde-chasse) acd me or two assistacts is assigced to 

each go~vercorat, b ~ with t territories of cp to 3,600,000 ha their 

effectjvecess is limited. Additional staff, comm~rlcatioc acd observati~c 

eq5ipner.t ar.d traicicq are ceeded.

3. PRIMARY ECOSYSTENS OF TUFISIA 

3.1. COASTAL ZONES 

2 

With 1200 km of coastline acd a surface area of 164,000 km , Tucisia 

has oce of the highest coast1ice:surface area ratios ic A rica. A marine 

3 

zone to a depth of 200 meters covers ac area of 77,300 km (~cdrec 1978). 

The. extensive length of coastlice (figure 3) adds significactly to the 

biologj.ca1 diversity since there is a change in the characteristic flora 

and fauca of the coastal and marice ecosystems as ore progresses form the 

humid rocky coasts in the north to the shallow sandy coastal areas ucder 

the icflsecce of the Sahara ic the south. 

Coastal waters are influenced by the East acd West Medlterraceac 

basics en-0thmac 1973). Water ic the West Medjterraceac basic, which 

affects the corth coast, is oftee mixed with niitriect rich water from the 

Atlactic oceac, especially ic the wicter. The south coast is more 

affected by the East Mediterranear basic, which has slightly warmer water 

with a higher salt coctect. 

The East acd West basics are actiially the deep offshore waters. 

Shallower waters closer to shore are part of the Sicslzlo-"njsiar basic 

or Street of Sicily (Vac Dijk :986), which stretches from T~cisja t.o 

Sicily acd or to Italy, dividirg the East ard Mest Wedjterrareac basics. 

Altho~gh Atlantic tides do not pecetrate far icto the deep waters of 

the !s!editerraceac, the weak tides of the currect that flows through the 

Street of Sicily are amplified by the risicg seafloor of the Pelagean sea 

and the Gslf of Gabes (~ac Dijk 1986). Therefore, although the stee~ly 

slopicg sea bottom of the corth coast results in negligible tides, the 

shallow Gclf of Gabes has tidal amplitudes of up to 2 meters. 

The Tucisjac coast is clearer thac macy other parts of the 

Kediterreneac; revertheless, polliitioc is a serious problem affecticg the 

marice faxa acd flora. ?.lost of Tucjsj.als ixdcstry is located or the 

coast acd acti-pollstioc reeclatiocs are cot ecforced strocgly ecoiigh to 

prevect discharge of chemical wastes into the sea. 

Ic the 1970s, off-shore drillice resslted jr er average average of 

300,000 toes of oil released into the sea (~cdrec acd Salem 1978). 

Prod~ction has decreased since thee, but pollutioc still occurs. 

Phosphate placts at Sfax and Gabes release coctamicated water in the sea. 

Some treatmect of wastewater is done, but it is inadequate for the arno~cts 

produced. 

Olive oil acd soap processing plants, cacneries, cemect factories, 

tacneries, paper placts acd chemical icdustries all release waste products 

into the sea. Other ind~stries release lubricat5oc oil, solvents, 

detergects, metallic powders, heavy metals, acid compoucds, etc. with 

their wastewater. Althoueh some industries are improving pollctioc 

coctrol practices, industrial expacsSoc alocg the coast is reszlticg in 

iccreesicg total amounts of poll~tacts. Darmozl et . 61. ( 198~) reported 

that chenjcal icdzstrial wastes at Gabes have cacsed have cs,sed diverse 

damage to the marire ecvirocmect.

Figure 3 

Coastal Zones 

of Tunisia 

/ LIBYA 

1 . Coral Coast 

2. Gulf of Tunis 

3. Gulf of Hammamet 

4. Gulf of Gabes

Urban wastes (sewage) also alter coastal ecosystems. Virtually all of 

the major cities discharge at least some untreated sewage into the sea, as 

well as large quantities of partially treated wastewater. Runoff from 

agricultural lands carries chemical compounds such as nitrogen fertilizers 

and over 35 types of pesticides, including: Malathion, Dieldrine, Lindane 

and 2.4-D (~ndren and Salem 1978). Chemical compounds affect the marine 

flora and fauna and some can be passed on the the birds, 'wild mammals and 

people that eat seafood. 

In addition to chemical pollution, coastal areas are eensitive to: 

3.1 .1 . Coral Coast 

Shoreline development 

Shoreline degradation: 

- Erosion due to grazing, vegetation removal, soil 

disruption 

- Coral harvesting 

The corth coast from Tabarka to Bizerte is also known as the "Coral 

Coast". The Kroumirie/~ogod mountain ranges give the coastline its 

characteristic steep slopes, low cliffs and rocky shores, interspersed 

with sandy beaches and coastal plaics. Even where the mouctaic edges are 

under the sea, the slopes remain fairly steep. The depth is greater than 

100 m within 10 km of the shore along almost the entire coast. The 

continental shelf is narrow, often with a rough steep slope and cut with 

deep channels (~zouz 1975). 

The Mediterranean sea moderates the ambient temperatures of the coast. 

0 

Near Tabarka the average annual temperature is at the 16 C isotherm. 

0 

Progressing east, the average annual temperatuge increases to the 17 C 

isotherm near Cap Negro, and at Bizerte the 18 C isotherm is reached. 

Domicact winds are from the W-NW, bringing moist air in from the sea. 

Annual precipitation decreases from a rate of > 900 mm annually to 600 mm 

annually as one progresses eastward along the Coral Coast. Precipitation 

patterns appear to be related more to the presence of the mountain ranges 

than to coastal icfluences. 

A. Vegetation 

Coastal vegetation types reflect those of the inland forests, but 

trees are often stunted, resulting in vast coastal maquis. Salt 

intolerant species, such as aleppo pine Pinus halepensis, are replaced by 

more tolerant species; however, there is a sizable aleppo pine forest at 

Ras el Korac, aboat 15 km west of Bizerte.

Maqcis. Fron Tabarka to Cap Serrat the coastal ridges are oftec 

covered wjth - Olea eurooaea - Pistacia lectisccs (referred to as Olealectiscs) 

domirated maqiiis with varying densities of holm oak Ouercus 

- ilex. Cork oek C. suher erows better ic dryer ard warmer cocditiocs, but 

it is oftec a compocect of the maquis, as is zec oak Q; canariecsis, which 

grows ic cool ravines dowc to the sea. Other comrnoc woody placts of the 

coastal maquis are: 

- 

Qiierca coccif era Lavacdula atoechas 

Cistus rno~speli ecsis Rosmaricus officjcalls 

Hyrtzs cornmixis Calycotome villosa 

Erica multiflora Rhamnus sp. 

Arbiit~is unedo 

Phillyrea acg~stif3lia media 

Jcckperus phoecicea 

J. oxycedr~s 

3,cts. Vast expacses nf nov:c< s~rd dsces have formed al3cg the mrth 

coast. nure formatioc is a dyranSc prxess whereby larce areas are 

covered wjth sacd, ther revegetate acd are ofter. covered agalc over a 

period cf mar.!: years. A t the nbith of Oiled :?elah, more ther :039 ha were 

covered by dxes. The Fnrestry Djrectorate stabllized 960 ha, leavicg 

abo_t 80C ha. Vegetated dxies were placted to e-calyptcs, acacta, 

maritine pire Picus ina aster ar.d other tree species. The ~cdergrowth that 

icvaded caturally is very similar to the maqcis vegetatio~ drscribed 

above, bct rot qcite as decse. Also occcrrice are: 

Retena morosperne 

hanophila erecaria 

ScroF~laria sanbzci folta 

Crnciacslla maritlna 

Or ths stabilized dures of Sao:iaria, west. of O,chtata, the vegetatioc 

is characteri.zed by a conplete seauerce goicg from A .areearia to kermes 

oek Csercus coccifera, with some zcces donirated by Lotcs creticiis, Retana 

mocosDerna, J;ciper~s oxycedriis ard 4, ohoecjcea. The site has the 

largest stacds of kerces 3ak ir ~ ; r i s j i m ard Peterker :969). 

-- 

Watersheds. klocg the ravires acd streambeds there are associatiocs 

charact~rized by Jscc~s sp. ard oleacder 1Ierii;m oleacder. Where there js 

r~ccicg water, cattails Typha acgusti folia are often prese~t.. 

Rarshes. A t Cap Serrat there are freshwater coastal marshes 

surro~cded by a rnaquis of Lavandula stoechas, Arbiitus ucedo and kermes 

oak. The marsh vegetatj or iccludes: 

Cladim mariscus 

m . ~exriom scoplciedes 

Carex pseudocj.perix 

Campar:;la ala ta 

-- 

Themeda trincdra 

Alcus glut5 ~3sa 

Csmucda regalis 

and nary rare (~adfard ard Peterkec 1963) acd X3rth Afrj car ecdenjc 

species, s~ich as Th~nedo triacdrn ard Ct-cista -1c5 ca. 

?arSce flcra. \'ecetat5or. or the carrow, \;r.ever. coctir.scta1 shelf js 

ir.fli;er.ced by At lactic szrfacr vaterr ir the \

combination of surface waters produce a very hjgh species diversity along 

the corth coast. Alocg the coast, and especially ic the Caljte chaccel, 

-- 

the flora 3ncll;de Arondo docax and Ricims commucis (IUCN 1987). Red 

algae species, such as Chocd-ius crispus are commoc, as well as a rumber 

of greec seaweeds (ex. Udotea petiolatas) and Leptometra pha1ace;im 5,s 

presect. Progressing seaward, there are Cridaris fuciculina prairies on 

the high bottoms, which are replaced by Isidella ie the middle depths 

where there are light-soiled bathysal b o w z o u z 1975b'. 

Mammals. Racy of the mammals of the upland forests also range into 

the coastal maquis and plains. Of special sjgnificacce is the presence of 

otter Lutra lutra sigc alocg macy of the rivers that drain into the sea. 

Common mammals include: wild boar -- Sus Scrofa, jackal Cacis aiireiis, red 

fox V~lpes vulpes, Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon ar.d brow. hare 

Lepus capecsis. A variety of rodents also live along the coast. 

- Birds. Althozgh the diversity of shorebirds acd waterfowl is not 

nearly as great as it is in the intertidal flats of the sosthern coast, 

the diversity of uplacd coastal habitats results in a fair species 

richness for the birds of the Coral Coast. A sample of the bird species 

ircliides those listed for the Calite archipelago (~ectjoc 3.2.: ), ard : 

Biizzard Sardiciac warbler 

Long-le~ged biizzard Dartford warbler 

3arsh harrj er Nj ghtineale 

Barbary partridge Blackbird 

Palm dove Black-eared wheatear 

Eee-eater Spotted flycatcher 

Eulbiil Chaff inch 

Great tit 

Marine Fauna. F!i.ch biological djversity is characteristic of the 

corth coastal waters, especially aroucd the Galite archipelago. Red coral 

Corallim r~brun forms macy reefs and there are a varSety of molliiscs, 

fish acd ever s~jcy lobster Paljcurus elaphas. Fish species reported by 

Caolthier (1 978) iccliide: 

Pagellus pagellos 

Boops salpa 

Cornica cigra 

Serranus scriba 

Karaena helena 

Moroce labrax 

Labrus bj maculatiis 

Diplodus sargus 

Mullus surmuletiis 

C. Icfluences 

Crazing is fairly heavy along most of the coast. The effects of the 

grazing are a shift in species composjtion to less palatable species, 

decreased vegetatioc cover and increased erosion. Crazirg animals may 

also distirb birds dl;ricg the cesticg season and linjt the effective range 

of some species of mamnals.

Ic the maquis, Hyrtus cornnucis acd rosemary Rosmaricus officicalis 

bracches are harvested for the distillatioc of oils acd fragracces. Large 

q~actities of the placts are cut, wbich alters the species conposjtioc aid 

decreases vegetatioc cover. 

Species conpositioc was also altered by reforestatioc work dore by the 

Forestry Directorate. Large areas have been planted to pice, eucalyptus 

and acacia. Eiicalyptus plactations have ac especially sigrificact 

5.r-fluerce oc species compositioc sicce allelopa thi c conpoucds produced by 

the trees restrict the growth of other species acd oftec virtually 

elimicate the lower vegetation strata. 

Small agricnltural plots are developed alocg part of the coast - 

cotably at Cap Serratacd Sjdj Nechree. There are also several villages 

alocg the coast. 

3.1.2. C~lf of Tu~is: Eizerte to El Haouaria (cap br) 

The coast fron Rizerte to Raf Raf (Portn ~arica! is a tracsj tjoc from 

the rocky shores srd st€€? sloyicg bgttons of thc Coral Coast to the 

sh6llaver waters acd higher percectace of sacdy beaches ic the Cclf of 

Tmis. Fron P6f Raf t~ Solinar the coastlire 5s fairly 1 ~ acd u flat with 

macy coastel plalcs ecd ac estiery at the mccth of Oied Xedjerda. At 

Kocrbo,~ acd agajc at El Yao;aria the shores are steep acd rocky dlie to 

the extecsj~c of the Yicjsiac 9orsal mouctaic rarge thracgh Cap Eoc. 

Icsjde a lice fran Bizerte to F1 Hao,aria the area of the sea deeper 

tha~ :OC n is relatively small. Sallrity ic the Gjilf of Tiicjs averages 37 

ppt ard water tenperatires average 17' C (Flee-0thmac 1973). Shallow water 

acd the shelter~cg effects of the bay forned by the Cap Boc pecicsula, 

greatly affect the physical a ~ d bSolo~ical conpocerts of the coast. 

Year ace~al ternp~ratiires fron Bizerte to T~cjs are slightly higher 

6 

thar :8 C. Fron Ti;cj.s to El Hao~aria the moiictairs of Cap 3oc resclt ic 

0 

a slight drop ic average ternperat.ires, biit they are still ceer :8 C. The 

average acciial precipitatior rate drops from 600 m at Bizerte to 500 

at Ref Raf, thee to dCO - 500 nun fror. Tucis to Korboiis. Betweec Korbous 

ard El Yaoiiaris the acr~al precipitatjo~ is iccreased by the n~crtajc 

icfliiecce to 500 - 700 mm. 

Ocly ore oct of five days is calm in Tucis. Domicact wicds are from 

the w-nil, but east wicds are also very common and lacd-sea breezes are 

reg,lar. The bioclimate is Subhemid, hot wicter variart. Ocly 15 kn 

iclacd the bioclimate chacges to Seni-arid Superjor. 

kch of the iiplacd from Bizerte to Raf Ref is c>iltjvated. There is a 

large plactatjoc (c.3,000 ha) of njxed tree species bordericg over 10 km 

of coest1ir.e bctw~er. 3zerte acd Cap Zebjb. At Cap %bib the no,rtaks 

meet sea, resiiltice ic areas of rocky, eroded snrdstoce coastljce 

icterspersed an9r.g the sardy beaches. Tide1 p ~ols with a variety of fama 

acd flora are comnor. ic the rocky hreas.

Raf Raf is highly cultivated, except the tip of the point and the 

higher ridges. On uncultivated land there is a degraded forest of carob 

and wild olive europaea oleaster and a spontaneous 

of aleppo pine Pinus halepensis. This is also the only 

locatioc in Tunisia where the rare Pinus microphylla grows a ad ford and 

Peterken 1979). 

South of Ghar el Melh and extending to Cap Gammarth is the Medjerda 

delta; the only extensive littoral plain in northern Tunisia en-0thman 

1973). The littoral plain extends about 10 km inland and reaches almost 

20 km inland near Oued Medjerda. Much of the higher land of the Oued 

Medjerda floodplain has been cultivated. Uncultivated land is vegetated 

to plants characteristic of halophile associations (see Section 3.3.2), 

includicg: 

Suaeda sp. Halocnemum sp. Arthrocnemum sp. 

Cynodon dactyloc Limonium sp. Atriplex sp. 

From Gammarth to Soliman much of the coast is low with sandy shores or 

there is a sandy fringe where the hills reach the sea. Upland areas were 

origically vegetated to Olea-lentiscus formations, but now most of the 

land is cultivated or developed. 

Near Solimac, 30 km east of Tunis, is a shallow coastal marsh. About 

40 ha of wst marsh are separated from some dry marsh land by a raised dirt 

road (Fiorgan 1982). Rucoff and ground water supply the marsh with 

slightly salty water (4-5 g/l). The marsh varies in size from year to 

year and dries out ic exceptionally dry years. Morgan (1982) reported a 

40% vegetation cover of Scirpus maritimus and a carpet of Characeae on 90% 

of the bottom. Other plants include: 

Polygonum amphibium Ranunculus sp. 

Phragmites communis Eleocharis sp. 

North of Solimac, at Korbous, the coast is steep and mountainous. 

Sandstoce slopss soath of Korbous are covered by open maquis with several 

species characteristic of hotter southern locations. Dominact and rare 

species include: 

Quercus coccifera Chamaerops humilis 

Olea europaea Retama monosperma 

Pistacia lentiscus Juniperus phoenecia 

Calycotome villosa Epedra alata 

Rosmaricus officinalis Linaria cossoni (~unisia endemic) 

Along the coast of Cap Bon the climax vegetation species is kermes 

oak, which usually grows ic bush form in various associations depending on 

the climate and soil (ORSTON 1962). On the coastal dunes ~mmophila 

arenaria and Imperata cylindrica are associated with: 

Cakils maritima Mathiola tricuspidata 

Crucianella maritima Eryngiam maritimum 

Paccratum maritimum

which succeed to: 

Lotus creticus Juniperus oxycedrus 

Cutandia divaricata J. phoenicea 

Dunes with calcareous crusts formed by seashell debris are vegetated to: 

Thymus capitatus Helianthemum racenosum 

Hypparhenia hirta Elychryeum stoechas 

Asteriscus maritinus Ebenus pinata 

Fumara thymifolia 

Where juniper has stabilized the dunes and enriched the soil with humus, 

characteristic species are : 

Pistacia lentiscus Smilax aspera 

Asparagus acutifolius Arum italicum 

Geracium robertianum ssp purpureum Prasium ma jus 

Between the dunes, wh5re the water table is closest to the surface, Myrtus 

commucis ard hygrophile plants are favored, such as: 

Carex divisa Lotus corniculatus 

Galiun apari~e Plantago crassifolia 

Or the windiest parts of the coast grow associations of: 

Qaerzas coccif5ra Silene gallica 

Halimium halimifolium Linaria heterophylla 

Lavandala stoechas Brachypodium distachyum 

Juciperus phoecicea Filago gallica 

J. oxycedrus RosmarTnus officinalis 

Cistus salviifolius Thymus capitatus 

The coast from Ras el Fartass to El Haouaria is a mosaic of kermes oak 

or jucip5r maquis with the previously mentioned associations. Near Sidi 

Daoud a mixed plantatio~ dominated by alsppo pine stretches from the sea 

to the other side of the penics~la by Dar Chichou. Olea-lentiscus 

associations arg domicant at the point of Rass el Ahmar and over much of 

Cap Bon. 

Marine Flora. The flora of the infralittoral zone on rocky substratum 

of the Gulf of Tunis is composed mainly of 3 types of algae (~nane 

1977): 

Phaeophycaeae (brown alnae) 

Cystoseira stricta Dictyota dichotoma 

C. abrotanifolis Dilophus fasciola 

C. opmtoides Polysiphona subulifera 

Padica pavona 

Chlorophyceae (gresc algae) 

Acetabslaria mediterranea Dasycladus clavaeformis 

Anadyomene osrllata Halimeda tuca 

Codiam bursa

B. Fauna 

Rhodophyceae (red algae) 

Laurencia obtusa Phyllophora cervosa 

Peyssocnelia squarmis Aglaothomnfum tripicnatum 

P. polymorpha Vidalia volubilis 

P. rdbia Crodelia expa~sa 

Mammals that use the coastal areas in and around the Gulf of Tunis are 

jackal, fox, kaffir cat Pelis sylvestris libyca, Egyptian mongoose and 

several species of rodects. Birds alocg the coast are much more varied 

thac the mammals. Waterfowl acd waders include: 

Grey heroc Avocet Black-tailed godwit 

tx Karbled tesl Spotted redshack Herring gull 

i'allard Redshack Slender-billed gull 

c Coot Greecshack Mediterraceac gull 

c ?:oozher. Kectish plover Rlack tern 

Gl3ssy ibis Ccrlew sandpiper Little tern 

Little egret 

Narire Fazca. Rarine fauca that occur aroucd the Zembra archipelago 

ace : 977 ) irclzde : 

Flolluscs: 

Aplysia fasciata Dectalium vulgarie 

Arca barbata 

D. inaequicostatum 

Avicnla hirucdo Fissurella graeca 

hlla stricta Fusus syracusacus 

Cardiam sp. 

F. rostratus 

Cerithiam vulgatum Gibbala cineraria 

Chlamys flex~osa Murex bracdiaris 

C. operc-daris 

M. trucculus 

Cardita calycda 

Chlamys vavia 

Natica josephira 

N. millipucctata 

Clacculus jusi eci Iiucula nucleus 

Crustaceacs: 

Carcicus maexas Maia verrucosa 

Dorippe lanata Palaemoc serviatus 

Idotea hectica P. squilla 

Ilia nucleus 

Echicoderms: 

Astropectec johnstoci Echicaster sepisotus 

A. bi spicosis Holothuri s sp. 

Axtedcc mediterraceam Hacelia attenuate 

Crideria: 

Alcyorim acazle Parcarnaricea elavata 

A. palrnetiim Peccatiila phosphorea 

A. coralloides 

Nassa mutabilis 

N. limita 

N. costulata 

N. reticulata 

Octopcs vdgaris 

Ostrea edulis 

Oxycos olivacea 

Pectec jacobeus 

Pisacis maculosa 

Sepia officicalis 

Vecer~pis aureus 

Pagurus calidus 

Paguristes oculatus 

Stichopus regalis 

Ophiuna texturata 

Sty locidaris afficis 

Pteroides g~iseam 

Veretillum cyr.ornorium

Sponges: 

Axj tells demicorcis 

A. verrucosa 

Fish: 

Boops boops 

Poops salpa 

Blecci~m sp 

Cocger conger 

Crecilebras pavo 

Diplodus anculari 

Dasyatis pastiraca 

Dectex dentex 

J~l5.i;~ sp. 

C. Icfl..iecces 

Hippocampues guttulatus 

Cristocapo argectatus 

Labr~s sp. 

Myliobatis aqci la 

Hureca haleca 

Mullcs swimelutus 

Mugil sp. 

Pecaem kera thuria 

Pagellus morymss 

Siphrocostona rocde1at.i 

Scorpaeca porcus 

S. scrofa 

Serracus scriba 

S. cabrilla 

Sparus aiirata 

Solea solea 

Syr.gcatus sp. 

Raia sp. 

Torpedo ocii1at.a 

Uranoscopus scaber 

Fost of the coast from Bj zerte to El liaouarja has beee developed . 

Restdectial developmect near Bizerte acd TizSs acd to~rjsn developnect 

(hotels, resta~racts, macaged beaches) cear the major cities has 

permacertly chac~ed n2ch of the coast~l habitat. Ic additioc to coctinued 

acd iccreasicg cocstr~ctioc alocg the coast, large cumbers of residects 

acd to~rists produce great quactities of sewage acd other waste that oftec 

ecds ;p 1r the sea ard or the shore. 

Fishicg has affected many species ic the Gslf of %cis. Scare (1977) 

described 3 disticct bjotopes in the marjee zoce of the Zembra 

archipelago. Each zoce coctains ac ab~cdacce of fauca acd flora, 

iccladirg some species that have become rare jc the rest of the G~lf of 

Tecis. This rich narice diversj ty is imparta~t ic an overfished regjoc 

aca the site is of intercatiocal importacce. 

3.:.3. Gulf of Hammamet: El Fao~aria to Chebba a ass ~abozdia) 

Altho~gh the coastlice is fairly rocky aad hilly cear El Hao:iaria and 

kocastir, most of the Culf of Hamnamet js characterized by sandy beaches 

acd flat coast81 plaits. Duces frequectly form j.r the littoral cordor., 

but vast expacses of icland migrating dunes, such as those alocg the north 

coast, are not evidect. 

The littoral cordoc of duces oftec forms a barrier that slows rucoff 

water from flowicg directly into the sea. Racked-up water fcrms locg 

bacds of brackish sehkhets (salt lakes) alocg the coast. Sebkhet Sidi 

Khtilifa acd Sebkhet Halk el Meczel stretch for 37 km, from Bo;; Fjcha to 

Sidi 93- Ali, alocg the iclacd side of the littoral dures. 

S3;;th of El fioiiarja, t,he coastlire is perpendic~lar to the predoni.cact 

westerly acd easterly wicds. The Pest Kediterraceac icfluecce ic the 

Sic~lclo-T~cisiar basic decreases ir the Culf of Hamnacet acd Scflner-ces 

of the Sicilier. l!j gh Basic acd the East 14edi terraceac increase (see-0thnar: 

1973). Proceedjcg ~02th fron Cap 90c, the water becomes warmer acd 

shellover. A t the nid-poict of the CiAf of Hammanet coast, cear Ycfjda, 

the water is less thee 700 m deep for over 65 kn fron shore.

Mean annuah temperatures along this section of coast are slightly 

higher than 18 C. Mean annual precipitation north of Menzel Temime, on 

Cap Bon, is about 500 mm. From Menzel Temime to Enfida annual rainfall 

averages 400 - 500 mm; between Enfida and Mahdia the rate decreases to 300 

- 400 mm and south of Mahdia it ie less than 300 mm. The bioclimate is 

Semi-arid Superior from Kelibia to Nabeul, with winter variants of hot to 

mild. At Hammamet the bioclimate is Semi-arid, hot wknter variant, and 

south of enfida the bioclimate is Semi-arid Inferior, mild winter variant. 

A. Vegetation 

Vegetation associations south of El Haouaria are not as diverse as 

those to the north. From El Haouaria to Dar Chichou the climax vegetation 

type is kermes oak (see Section 3.1.2). South of the oak maquis the 

climax vegetation is Olea-lentiscus formations until Hammamet, then thuya 

-- 

Callitris articulata until Enfida, followed by the Low Steppes. Most of 

the vegetation is not at the climax stage and many of the associations 

currently found on this section of the coast are characterized by: 

with many types of mosaics indicated by: 

Artemisia herba alba 

Asarum vulgare 

Stipa parviflora (sub-association) 

Solanum sodomaeum (variant) 

Zizyphus lotus 

and Heliacthemum lippii Echiochilon fruticosum 

H. racemosum Atractylis serratuloides 

Lygeum spartum Lavandula multifida 

Phlomis floccosa 

or Cynodon Artemisia campestris 

Another association is indicated by: 

Corynephorus articulatus Lupinus hirsutus 

and there is a vegetation group indicated by: 

Spergula diandra Solanum sodomaeum 

Scolymus hispanicus 

A common association along the Gulf of Hammamet and the Gulf of Gabes is 

the littoral sand group indicated by: 

Ammophila arenaria 

Agropyrum junceum 

Cakile maritima 

Medicago marina . 

Two importact associations that occur along the entire coast acd ic the 

steppes are found on saline soils, especially around sebkhets. The first 

association consists of slightly to moderately halophile placts, iccluding 

several species each of 

Suaeda 

Salsola 

Frankenia 

Limocium 

Atriplex

and the second association is composed of moderately to strongly halophile 

species, iccluding 

Salicornia (several sp) Halocnemwn etrobilaceum 

Arthrocnemum indicum Halopeplis amplexicaulis 

.Marine Flora. The marine flora of the Gulf of Hammamet is 

characterized by eome of the same algae species as are found in the Gulf 

of Tunis (section 3.1.2), but the overall species composition is closer to 

that of the Gulf of Cabes (section 3.1.4). 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Jackals, red fox and Egyptian mongoose prey on' brown hare 

Algeriac hedgehogs Erinaceus algirus and small rodents, such as jerboa 

Jaculus oriectalis and the North African endemics Shaw's jird Meriones 

- shawi an-erbillus campestris (~ernard 1969). At Cap Bon wild 

boars occasionally venture from the hills into coastal areas, but it is 

not their primary habitat. 

Birds. Duricg migratioc periods thousands of shorabirds rest on the 

shoras a ~ d in the sebkhets along the Gulf of Hammamet. Most of the 

species that visit the rest of the Tunisian coast also stop between El 

Haouaria and Rass Kaboudia. During the summer, the number of birds and 

species is gr6atly reduced; however, in July of 1987 the following species 

were commor. or ware begiming to arrive in the area: 

C. Influences 

Gannet 

Grey heror. 

Little 5gret 

Flamicgo 

Shelduck 

Oystercatcher 

Avocet 

Black-winged stilt 

Ringed plover 

Kectish plover 

Little stint 

Temminck' s stint 

Little ricged plover 

Commoc sandpiper 

Curlew sandpiper 

Spotted redshank 

Redshank 

Greenshank 

Black-tailed godwit 

Slender-billed gull 

Little gull 

Herring gall 

Mediterranean gull 

Caspian tern 

Little tern 

Black tern 

Palm dove 

Hoopoe 

Collared pratincole 

Swallow 

Great grey shrike 

Fan-tailed warbler 

Thousands of people go to the beaches daily during the eummer; 

especially near Nabeul, Hammamet and Sousse. Large areas of coastline 

have been developed for tourism (hotels, managed beaches) and other areas 

have been degraded by heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Hunting and 

poaching occurs in the coastal sebkhets and cultivation has broken up many 

of the halophile zoces. The Gulf of Hammamet is fished by individual and 

commercial opera tors. Overfishicg and pollution are affecting the size, 

quantity acd quality of the catch.

3.1.4. Culf of Cabes: Rass Kaboudia to the Libyan border 

The majority of the coastline south of Rass Kaboudia forms the Culf of 

Cabes. The coastline of the gulf consists of narrow, shallow, muddy 

intertidal flats or sandy beaches. From Ras Kaboudia to approximately 

5 km south, near Amra (~riba), the shoreline is steep enough to prevent 

large areas from being exposed durkng low tides. The shoreline soon 

levels 'out and most of the rest of the coastline to Jerba (except 25 km 

near Cabes, parts of Caraet bou Crara, El Kantra to Zareis and Rass ~djkr) 

is typified 'by intertidal flats. Large expanses occupy more than 25,000 

ha, of which c.14,600 ha is situated at Kneiss (van Dijk 1986). 

Dunes cover much of the shore inland of the intertidal flats and 

beaches, except at the gypsous cliffs of Tar-el-Jorf and Bou Crara and the 

calcareous cliffs of Ras Maamour to Zarzis en-0thman 1973). Inside the 

littoral dunes, long narrow aebkhets often form, such as sebkhet Dreiaa, 

south of Skhira. 

Flat coastal plains subside very gradually into the sea. At some 

points the water is less than 50 m deep for more than 100 km from shore, 

and at no point is the water over 100 m deep within 100 km from shore. 

The flat shelf is so extensive that the -200 m isobathe is 250 km from 

shore en-0thman 1973). The shallow water amplifies the weak tidal 

influences of the Atlantic ocean and results in tidal amplitudes of up to 

2 m in the Gulf of Gabes (Van Dijk 1986). Surface currents consist of 

water with a constant temperature (14 - 15' C) and relatively low salinity 

(37.3 - 37.9 ppm) throughout the year (Van Dijk 1986). Near the shore, 

the shallower waters are usually warmer (c.19.5' C) and saltier (38 ppm). 

The sabtropical Saharan influence is much stronger at the Culf of 

Gabes thac along the coast to the north. Temperatures remain mostly 

betweec 20 - 30 C from May to August and the average yearly precipitation 

is less thac 200 mm, most of which falls between September and March. 

Sirocco wicds occur aboat 35 days per summer, and rapidly dessicates the 

vegetatioc. Bioclimates range from Semi-arid Inferior by Rass Kaboudia, 

to Arid Superior by Sfax and Arid Inferior south of Sfax. Due to the sea, 

bioclimates are all of the mild winter variant. 

A. Vegetation 

Lowland halophile vegetation and vegetation found on littoral sands 

are similar to that of corresponding areas north of Rass Kaboudia (see 

Section 3.1.3~). However, the vegetation found on higher, less saline 

ground differs significantly from that on the coast to the north. There 

are essentially no forest or maquis associations along this section of 

coast, but there are some oasis (see Section 3.7). Climax vegetation 

types are those characteristic of secondary steppes of low plains and 

Subdesertic Littoral Steppes. The actual associations present are those 

typical of degraded lands (Le Houerou and Fromect 1969).

North.of Sfax the vegetation associations are ueually dominated by 

halophile groups and : 

Artemisia herba alba Zizyphus lotus (sub/assn .) 

Asparagus albus Atractylie serratuloides " 

Trigonella anguina 

Lygeum spartum 

or a group of 

Solanum sodomaeum (variant) 

South of Sfax the halophile groups are interspersed with associations of: 

Pituranthos tortuosa Erodium glaucophyllum (da) 

Halophyllum vermicularire 

and 

Rhantherium suaveolens Lygeum spartum (~/8) 

Artemisia campestris Atractylis serratuloidas " 

South of Kceiss the vegetation is joined by an association of: 

Zygophyllum album Anarrhinum brevifolium 

acd a gypso-halophilo association of: 

Nitraria retusa 

Suaeda vermiculata 

Salsola sieberi var. vesceritensis 

On the Zarzis peninsula is an association of 

Artemisia herba alba Gymnocarpos decander (sub.) 

Arthrophytum scoparium 

Intertidal mudflats are often covered by dense Zostera nolti (van Dijk 

1986), and cear Mahares sea lettuce sp. grows on the sea bottom. 

Close to the shore at Kneiss, Spartina sp. and Halocnemum strobilaceum 

grow. Where inundation is less frequent and of shorter duration Halimone 

portulacoides, Limonium cf. , . Limoniastrum rnonope talum and Suaeda 

sp. appear. On the shore and small dunes Arthrocnemum cf. fruticosum, 

perene, Zygophyllum album, Thmelaea hirsuta and Haloxylon articulatum 

replace the more salt tolerant species. 

Marine Flora. Near Kerkennah island at the north end of the Gulf of 

Gabes, Posidonea oceanica comprises 95% of the marine fauna at depths less 

than 30 m. Between 30 - 45 m depth, Canlerpa sp. and Vidalia volubilis 

(green algae) dominate. At depths greater than 50 m, the red calcareous 

algae Lithophyllum racemus is found (~ajai and Zaarah 1981 ).

B. Fauna 

-- Mamnals. Although there is a dlversity of vegetatioc types alocg the 

coast, the most common associatiocs are of halophile species. Halophile 

associations provide adequate cover for small to mid-sized mamnals, such 

as jerboa Jaculus oriectalia, gerbil Cerbillus campestrls, sacd rat 

Psammomys obesus, haw's jrird, brow. hare, Algeriac hedgehog and the 

Egyptiac mongoose, red fox and jackals that prey or them. Uplacd areas 

also harbor many of the above mamnala, but cultivatioc, overgrazicg and 

other forms of disturbance limit the habitat value. 

- Birds. Vac Dijk (1986) reported that "it would appear that the C~lf 

of Cabes is the major area in the Kediterraceac for wictericg waders acd 

some waterfowl species". This conclusioc was based oc co~cts made of 

wintericg waterfowl and waders over 380 km of shorelice (765 of the Gulf 

of Cabes total) ic Jac~ary - March 1984. 

The Cilf of Gabes is the most importact wictericg erea ic the 

1,lediterraceac for cormoracts acd spoocbills. At least 3 threateced 

species also occ;r there. Niceteec wader acd waterfowl specles vere 

detormjced to wicter ic the Gulf of Cabes ir combers greater thac :% of 

their total flyway or biogeographical populations. Those species are 

noted ir. the list of Golf of Cabes bird species (fiezre 4). 

Marice Faoca. The mocotocy of sedjmects, the homogecejty, acd the 

abse~ce of rocky substrates ic the golf resslts ic a vast extecsioc acd 

low dlvfrsjty of marjce faica (~zouz 1975). Doniract specjes of the 

sootheast coast are: 

Ceodea sp. Picctada albida (cot foo~d to the north) 

Spatacgus porpureus Hacelia attecuata (sab-tropical) 

Cectrostephac~s locgi spir.;s " 

Altho~gh species diversity is low, prodoctior js very high. Almost 

all of the sponges, 75: of the shrimp and 605 of the ber.thjc fish 

harvested in Txisia come from the Ciilf of Gabes (!he-0thnac :973). 

Extecstive lists of harvested fish species are giver by Ber-Cthmac (:973) 

acd Na jai acd Zaarah (1 981 1. 

A total of 500 mollusc species have beec reported for th Gulf of Gabes 

(~osso 7979, Searat 1924 acd 1929, as cited ic Vac Dijk 1986); however, 

only a few species are important ic terms of biomass acd decsity. Average 

dry weight per square meter of macrobenthos fauca from the ictertidal 

flats near Kneiss island is 26.0 erams (~ac Dijk 1986). The taxonomic 

groups represected in that weight are: Castropodia (4951, Bivalvia (36), 

Polychaeta (:O%), Crustacea (I&) and other groups only comprised 15 of

the total. The most common species found are: 

Lepidochitona cinerea 

Bittium sp. 

Gourmya vulgata 

Trunculariopsis trunculus 

Nassariidae 

Pinctada radiata 

Loripes lacteus 

Cerastoderma edule 

Venerupis decussa 

V. aurea 

Scrobicularia cottarde 

Gastrana fragilis 

Pecaeus keranturus 

Solen marginatus 

Marphysa sanguinea 

Drilonereie filum 

Perknereis cultrifera 

Natantia 

Elaldanidae 

Callianassa ep. 

Brachyura 

Iaopoda 

Amphipoda 

Ophiuroidea 

Dasybrachus sp. 

Holothuroidea 

C. Influecces 

As with the coastline to the north, much of the Gulf of Gabes 

coastline is cultivated, grazed or developed. Hunting and poaching occur 

acd the gulf is the primary source of fish, shrimp and spocges harvested 

in Tunisia. Thz most szcsitive locatiocs are the intertidal flats, which 

are internatiocally important for migrating waterfowl and waders. The 

soft bottom protects many of the intertidal flats from freqaent 

disturbacca and development.

Little grsbe 

Great crested grebe 

Black-necked grebe 

Cory's shearwater 

Gannet 

Cormoract 

Squacco heron 

n* Little egret 

Great white egret 

Grey heron 

Glossy ibis 

t* White stork 

Spoocbill 

Greater flamingo 

n* Sheldack 

Wigeor. 

Pintail 

Garga~ey 

Shoveler 

Marsh harrier 

Her. harrier 

Buzzard 

Locg-leggad buzzard 

Goldec eagle 

Osprey 

Kestrel 

Merlir. 

Lacner falcoc 

t Peregrice 

Barbary partridge 

Coot 

Crar.2 

Oystercatcher 


n* Avocet 

Stone curlew 

Little ringed plover 



Kentish plover 

Dotterel 

Golden plover 

* Grey plover 

Knot 

Sacdar1ir.g 

Figure 4 

Birds of the Gulf of Gabes 


Dunlin 

Ruff 

Broad-billed sandpiper 


Bar- tailed godwi t 

Whimbrel 

t Slender-billed curlew 

Curlew 


n* Redshank 

Greenshack 

Marsh sandpiper 

Wood sandpiper 

Common sandpiper 

Turnstone 

Red-necked phalarope 

Pomarine skua 

Arctic skua 

Great skua 


Little gull 

Black-headed gull 

n* Slender-billed gull 

Common gull 

Lesser black back 

Herring gull 

Great black backed gull 

Kittiwake 

Gull-billed tern 

Caspian tern 

Lesser-crested tern 

Sacdwich tern 

n Common tern 

n Little tern 

n Black tern 

White-winged black tern 

Whiskered tern 

Green sandpiper 

Rock dove 

Palm dove 

Little owl 

Short-eared owl 

Swift or pallid swift 

White-rumped swift 

c = r.isting birds 

t = thraatecid s~ecies 

= > 18 of population of flyway or biogeographical regioc 

32 

Kingfisher 

Hoopoe 

Short-toed lark 

Lesser s-toed lark 

Skylark 

Crested lark 

Swallow 

House martin 

Headow pipit 

Red- throated pipit 

Water pipit 

White wagtail 

Grey wagtail 

Robin 

Black redstart 

Moussier' s redstart 

Stonechat 

Isabelline wheatear 

Wheatear 

Red-rumped wheatear 

Mourning wheatear 

Blackbird 

Song thrash 

Rufous bushchat 

Reed warbler 

Fan- tailed warbler 

Marmora' s warbler 

Spectacled warbler 

Sardician warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Fulvous babbler 


Corn bunting 

Reed bunting 

Trumpeter finch 

Linnet 

Goldfinch 

Greenf inch 

Raven 

Serin 

Chaffinch 

Starling 

Spotless gtarling 

Spanish sparrow

Fight major islacd archipelagos are distributed alocg the coast of 

'hicisia (figcre 5). There are also ma~y smaller islacds, same of which 

are mere rocks jutticg from the water acd some laree ecosgh to sapport a 

bit of vegetatioc, bst cot large enough to be co~sidered inportant in 

terms of natjonal biological diversity. The two largest islacds, 

Kerkeccah and Jerba, are both ic the south. The islands are separated by 

distacces of 26 to 135 km, biit cone are more than 50 kn from the mai~lacd. 

Species composition ic vegetation associatiom or jslacds are affected 

by a factor known as icsularity. Cece pools are restricted primarily to 

placts present oc the islands with a micimm of icvasion by vied borce acd 

floaticg seeds. Vi thoct the frequert di spersi oe of seeds betueec areas, 

as is commoc OR the naiclacd, species are more easSlp elimicated from ar 

islacd. Therefore, there are ssually feuer total species or jslards acd 

rare species merit special attectjoc. 

The combicatioc of the icsularity factor, thic soils acd oc southerr 

islacds the relatively low acciial precipitatioc nakes isfacd flnrh acd 

fa,ca q~jte secsitive to icflaecces oc the ecosystem. Crazlcg is already 

so i.ctecse oe most islands that it is ~rdoubtedly drasti call? af fecticg 

species conpostioc. Ac increase ic livestock cumbers, c.sltivated lard or 

wban areas cc~ld resiilt ic fewer native species of flora zble to occ,py 

the lin:ted space. 

Developmeet projects oftec iipset the soil stability of islacds, 

resslticg ic sard dixe formatioc or the loss of lard by erosior. 

Pollctioc is also a serious concerc that sho-sld be assessed ir regard to 

developmeet plars for the islands. The water nroacd Kzriate, Kerkeccah 

acd Jerba are already affected by the large amozcts of icd.~strlal acd 

urbac poll>.itio~ isssi r~ from coastal cities (~ectioc 3.: ). Iccreased 

pollctioc ic the shallow waters woiild cot ocly be detrinectal to marice 

facra acd flora and shorebirds, biit the local harvest of fish and other 

seafood wo..ild have higher levels of coctarnir-ar-ts, thiis affectice h~nac 

health acd welfare. 

Popclation erowth acd iccreasicg tourism will also iccrease demacds or 

the islacds' resocrces. Fresh water is an especially valuable resosrce, 

acd as cse iccreases the groundwater may be overexploited. If groucdwater 

use is cot properly regulated it may be pcmped faster thar. it is 

replecished by freshwater, thus lowering the wa t~r table acd allouic~ 

seawater to ir-filtrate, causirg ac irreversible i.rcrease ir. salirity (acd 

in pollstacts from the sea). A lowered water table wncld also affect 

vegetatioc connucities that exist in areas where the groiicduater Is 

currertl:; cear the s.srface.

Figure 5 

Locations of Islands 

of Tunisia 

Galite 

Can i 

Plane 

Zembra 

Kuriate 

Kerkennah 

Kneiss 

Jerba

To summarize, the general factors to which the island ecosystems are 

sensitivp include: 

3.2.1. Galite 

Erosion causing activities: 

Vegetation removal - especially on steep slopes 

Disturbance of surface soil 

Shoreline degradation - especially on the smaller islands 

Activities that reduce flora and fauna species and numbers: 

Water pollution 

Water exploitation ( i. e . over-exploitation) 

Human activity - especially during the nesting season 

Egg collection or destruction 

Erosion above nesting ledges - destroys nests and birds 

Animal species over-population - can damage vegetation 

Under-populatioc - gene pools below critical levels 

Poaching 

Coral collecting (~alite) 

The Galite archipelago is 40 krn from the north coast of Tunisia, 45 km 

northwast of Cap Serrat acd 64 krn northeast of Tabarka. The archipelago 

is domirated by the "T" shaped main island of Galite, which is 5.4 km long 

and c.950 m across at the carrowest point and 2.5 km at the widest part of 

the "T". The planirnetric surface area of the island is 650 ha, which is 

ir. reality increased by the sloping topography, culminating at 391 m ASL. 

Aboiit 2.5 krn to the southwest of Galite is the islet of la Fauchelle, 

14 ha ir area axd fairly low in altitude. The islet of Galitor. is only 50 

meters to the west of la Fauchelle, has an area of 27 ha and is topped by 

a lighthoase. A trio of small islets, the Isles de Chiens ("~og 

~slands") lie 1.6 km north of Galite, the largest of which is less than 9 

ha, but has ac altituds of 119 rn (~aulthier 1978). Thus the total 

planimetric land aria of the archipelago is about 700 ha. 

The Galite archipelago is the only granitic formation in Tunisia (IUCN 

1987). Soils are thin, of granitic origin, and some of the smaller islets 

and parts of the larger ones are scoured by the wind and waves to the 

point that there is little soil or vegetation cover. On the main island 

there are some valleys and plateaus with deep soils, and in many locations 

the soil is thick enough to have been cultivated to vinyards and gardens. 

Caves with above water or underwater entrances have been carved into 

many places by the action of the sea (~osser 1978). Relatively shallow 

water (cornpared to the rest of the "Coral coast") with a rocky bottom 

surrounds the isla~ds. Around the archipelago the water depth is scarcely 

over 100 n (~aalthiir 1978) and it is much less betweer. the islets.

A. Vegetation 

Wuch of Galite is covered by "diss" Ampelodesma tenax, a low grass 

that is sometimes very dense on hills. Some valleys on the northwest aide 

eupport shrubs so dense that they are impenetrable (Gaulthier 1978). 

Those maquis are of the Olea-lentiscus type,-with some Tamarix and Laurus 

mixed in. 

The gentler slopes of the islets of Galiton and la Fauchelle also 

support short and scrubby Olea-lentiscus formations, but the main 

vegetation is diss. Two of the three Ieles de Chiens are very weather 

beaten and produce very little vegetation, but that which does occur is 

mainly grasses and annual herbs. 

Domicant species of the archipelago include: 

Ampelodesma tenax 


Olea europaea 

Tamarix africana 

Launs nobilis 

Cistus sp. 

Rosmarinus off icinalis 

Scilla maritima 

Cynara scolymus 

Mammals. In 1986 only one monk seal Monachus monachus was observed at 

~ a l i 1987). w ~ which seems to indicate a decrease in numbers as well 

as a stronger tendency to rest inside caves with underwater entrances 

i~stead of OK beaches. Reasons for the change in behavior are probably 

relatid to iccreased human activity in the area. (especially recreational 

activity) and it is essential to the conservation of the monk seal 

popalatioc that disturbance be reduced to the minimum level possible 

(~osser 1978). 

--? 

The North Africac subspecies of the European rabbit (0 ctola us 

cuciculas) is found on Galite, Galiton and la Fauchelle (~nane 1977 . The 

rabbits originated in North Africa and may have crossed to Galite when 

the archipelago was connected to the mainland by a land bridge during the 

Riss-glacial sea regression (IUCN 1987) or they may have been .introduced 

during the Punic epoch as a food reserve (Gaulthier 1978). Current 

residents make use of that food reserve, and although rabbits are usually 

abundant on Galiton and la Fauchelle, ftshermen have hunted so frequently : 

on Galite that they have almost eliminated the rabbits in the past. Bats 

Pipistrellis sp. are common on the islands and common dolphins Delphinus 

delphis are frequently seen offshore. 

- 

Birds. A breeding colony of 60 - 70 pairs of endangered Eleonora's 

falcocs Falco eleonorae nests on one of the islets (Gaulthier 1978). The 

world popalatior, of Eleonora's falcon is less than 4000, so the 3% found 

oc the Galite archipelag~ are of high international importance.

Audouin's gulls Lams audouinii are the rarest breeding gull of the 

Europe and North Africa re'giar.-(Heinzel et.al. 1979). They only breed on 

rocky islands in the Mediterranean sea and there are reports of a small 

breeding colony at Calite (Caulthier 1978). This species is it serious 

danger of extinctioc and any breeding colony is of international 

significance. 

Nesting birds at the Calite archipelago 

Shag 

Cory's shearwater 

Storm petrel 

t Eleonora' s falcon 

t Peregrine 

Kestrel 


t ~udouin's gull 

Non-nesting birds include : 

Grey heron 

Booted eagle 


Turtle dove 

Bare owl 

Swift 

t = Threatened Species 

include : 

Blue rock thrush 

Spanish sparrow 

Rock dove 

Woodchat shrike 

Sardinian warbler melac 

Dartford warbler 

Marmora's warbler 

Goldficch 

Hoopoe 

Wood pipit 

Grey wagtail 

Icterine warbler 

Whitethroat 

Wood warbler 

Wheatear 

Her etofaura. The rich herpetofauna is Atlanto-mediterranean in 

o r i i m 7 ) , and the most abundant are lacrrtids and Scincids: 

C. Influences 

Scincus sp. 

Terentola sp. 

Testndo graeca 

Caretta caretta 

There is a small village of fishermen on Calite. About 10 families 

(approximately 35 people) were permanent residents on the island in 1978, 

and in prime lobster season the population was augmented by an additional 

18 families, raising the population to c.158 people. In addition to the 

houses of the villagers, a primary school and a military base (with aboat 

40 people) have been established on Galite. Galiton is occupied by a 

lighthouse and its attendants. 

The activities of the fishermen are having a profoand icfluecce oc 

aome of the rare fauna of the area. To protect the fish popalatiocs, some 

fishemec seek to eliminate natural predators, inc1adir.g the rars marine 

tortoise Thalassochyelys corticata, which sometimes become ectacgled ic 

fish nets. Mork seals are killed because they eat fish acd sometimes 

damage nets.

Duricg the cesticg season it is conmoc for fishermec to collect eggs 

from colocies of Cory's shearwaters acd herricg gulls to supplernect their 

dtets. This activity has had a profoccd effect oc the Cory's shearwater 

popiilatioc. Ic the past, eggs acd chicks were gathered fron Rleocora's 

falcoc cests to supply falconers. Garbage diimpicg, sewage outflows acd 

village expacsioc are other hunac icfluecces oc the islac? ecosystems. 

Recreatj ocal activj ty also icfluences the fauca of the archjpelago. 

For 5-6 mocths of the year, yachts acchor ic the waters of Calite acd 

psseccers exgage ic SCUBA divicg acd spear fishing. :Jot ocly does this 

activity effect the fish acd coral formatiocs, it also disturbs mock seals 

and cesticg birds. Prolocged visits to the shore dcrjcg the cesticg 

seasoc cac result ic serio~s losses of eggs dce to icsolatioc. 

Feral goats, sheep acd cows are affectjcg the vegetatioc compositioc 

acd sxcessiocal stages of Galite. Other jctrodzced mammals are affectire 

the facca of the islacds. Rats Rattus norvegicus are foucd on all of the 

islets acd comnocly raid the cests of Cory's shearwaters ard g~lls. Rats 

are abixdect, or overabzcdact, ever thocgh they are preyed cpx by cats oe 

Galite ecd raptors throcghs~t the archipelago. Feral cats elsa prey oc 

cesticg birds acd their youcg. 

Rabbits are so overabwdact ic some locatiocs that they have taken 

over all of the secluded riches where Cory's shearwaters tradjtiocally 

cested (~ailthier 1978). Vhec the birds are forced to cse less favorable 

locatiocs for cesticg they become miich more vclcerable to cats acd rats. 

Rabbits dig bcrrows ic macy of the mwe favorable lacatjocs of the 

jslacds. Those djggicgs are sometimes detrimectal to the vegetatjsc, 

which is aggravated by the feedicg activjty of the abxdact acjmals. 

Galitoc islet was desigcated a strict catcre reserve oc 4 July 1980. 

The reserve icclades the islet acd a 0.5 sea mile radjus as ac ictegral 

catzre reserve; therefore, jt also iccludes la Fa~chelle islet. Cal5te js 

of ictercatiocal importacce because of the ecdacgered Kedjterraceac mock 

seals acd the cesting colocjes of A.~douic's gulls, Eleocora's falcocs acd 

Cory's shearwaters. Ic spite of the terrestrial acd narjce facra acd 

islacd habltat, whjch is at least of natiocal importacce, there is little 

active naraeemect at the pressct tine (IUCI~ :987). 

3.2.2. Zembra and Zembretta Islands 

The Zenbra archjpelago is located ic the C~lf of Tscis rear the 

cortherc tip of Cap Boc. At the closest poict, the islacds are 11 kn 

corthwest of the maiclacd. Zembra, the largest jslacd of the archipelago, 

has ac area of 370 ha. Oc the soctheast sjde of Zenbra is Zenbretta, a 

much smaller islacd of 5 ha. There are also two ticy islets - the 

Cathedral acd Lactowhe, whjch are cot much more thac rock formatjocs 

j~tticg oiit of the sea, 60 m acd 400 m from Zembrs, respectively. 

Zenbra 5s e prismatjc shaped moxtajcois islacd ('race 19771, with a 

maximcn altit~de of L35 m. There are steep cliffs aroxd the jslacd, 

risicg cp to 200 m high oc the corth side, makjcg access difflcclt. At 

the bzse of the cljffs acd alocg the rest of thp :2 kn shsrelice there are

many caves and coves. Zembretta is also prismatic in shape and difficult 

to access. The 1.2 krn of shoreline rises to cliffs on the northwest aide 

,and there is a lkghthouse at the highest point of the island (53 m). 

There are 4 seasonal rivers on Zembra - Oued of the Harbor, Oued 

Zitom, Oued Callefroda and Oued el Kebkr - that drain watersheds of 25 to 

100 ha. The only permanent spring is Ain Kabbar. Thin, soils originate 

from substrates that are a continuation of strata found on Cap Bon: 

alternating layers of sandy limestone and clays from the oligocene and 

mPocene eras (IUCN 1987). There are also eocene deposits rich in marine 

fossils. 

Violent winter winds affect the island vegetatfon by blowing salty 

spray onto the land. Water salfnity at tbe surface is 37 ppt. In June 

the surface water temperature averages 15 C (IUCN 1987). The islands have 

a Sub-humid bioclimate with a warm winter variant in the lowlands and a 

mild wi~ter variant in the hfghlands. 

A. Vegatation 

Species diversity is poorer on Zembra than it is at mainland sEtes 

with similar climate and soil conditkons (~nane 1977); probably due to the 

ins~larity factor. In 1953 there were 230 plant species recorded on 

Zembra. Many of the species found in the alluvial plain at the south end 

of the island have disappeared since that time. 

Oce of the species that disappeared from Zembra at some time is holm 

oak Quercus =. The absence of holm oak is of sEgnificant interest 

six+ it should be the climax forest specses of the island (Snane 1977). 

Although there are no oaks on Zembra, associated plants charactersstic of 

the Q. ilex climax stage are well represented as well as the pi~neer sera1 

stages. Bare land is colonized by a Helianthemwn sward; accompanied by: 

Mentha pulegium 

Trifolium arvense 

T. tomentosum 

Vicia tetrasperma 

Filago gallica 

Plantago coronopus 

Radiola linoides 

Hslianthemum swards succeed to Cfstaceae scrub (~istus monspeliensis 

and - C. salviifolius), which occupy about 50 ha, then low Erica multiflora 

with: 

Pistacia lentiscus Clematks cirrhosa 

Periploca laevf gata Parie taria lusitanf ca 

Phillyrea angustifolia ssp media Arkstolochia longa 

Myrtus communis Sonchus oleraceus 

Daphne gnkdium Bryonia dkoica 

Lonicera implexa Arisarum vulgare 

which has bee^ replaced on 50 ha by the high Erica arborea and Arbutus 

unido shrab complex - the stage preceding a Q. ilex clkmax. Additio~al

species appearing at this stage include: 

Echium plantagsneum Campanula dichotoma 

Paronychka echknata Calycotome villosa 

Sklene gallica Rubsa peregrkna 

Cichoiam intybus Polypodkum vulgare 

Allium roseum Trklax apula 

A. pallens Ammi: majus 

Frequent disruptions to the ecosystems set back the successfonal 

stages and insularity and other influences prevent establishment of the 

Quercus ilex climax forest. More xerothermkc locatfons are occupked by 

- 

Olea europaea - Pistacia lentiscus (or 0lea-lentiscus) formations. 

europaea has survived only 3x1 the most xerothermsc sites (c.30 ha), so 

most stacds are dominated only by Pistacia lentkscus (more than 140 ha). 

Olea-lentiscus formations occupy a belt 50 - 350 m wide between the lowest 

lkmit of the Quercus ilex type formatkons and the halophile zone along the 

sea. Spacias associated with the formation include: 

Galactilis tomentosa Euphorbia peplis 

Hyosaris radiata Jun2perus Phoenicia 

T Brassica cratica atlantica Ruta chalepensis 

Avia tenorii Rapistrum rugosum 

Carex divisa Brisa maxfma 

Capparis spinosa Dactlyh glomerata 

Prasium majus Medscago hispida 

Alocg tha shora of Zembra and over most of Zembretta is a littoral 

zoce subjected to sea water spray, which favors halophile vegetation. 

This zone is 50 - 100 m wide on Zembra and extends up to 50 m kn altitude, 

covering a total of 80 ha. The halophile vegetation is typkfied by: 

acd accompaciad by 

Crithmum maritimum 

Inula crithmoidas 

Se~ecio crassifolius 

r Senecio cineraria typicus 

Urginea maritima 

r Erodium maritkmwn 

Cakile aegyptia T 

Polygonum maritimum rT 

Polypogon maritimus 

Iberis semperf lorus 

The remainder of Zembretta, around the 

Pistacia lectiscus 

Olea europaea 

r = Rare 

T = Tunisia E~demic 

Statice vsrgata 

S. echioides 

Lotus allkonii 

Fumaria capreclata 

Mesembryanthemem crkstallinum 

Atriplex patula 

Scabs osa farinosa 

Dkanthus rupicole hermaensfs 

Brassica cretkca atlantica 

Erodfum chium 

lighthouse is occupied by 

Phkllyrea angustffolfa 

Chamaerops humilis

Vegetation Characteristics of Special Importance 

The Zembra archipelago is the only island location of the Olea- 

lentiscus association in Tunisia. Insularity has resulted in the 

halophile vegetation formation being different from that same type 

elsewhere. The littoral eone has been left undamaged by man for many 

years and the halophile vegetation ie therefore a prfme example of its 

typa in Tunisia. Soma species on Zembra are also common in Italy, but 

. have not extended their range into mainland Afrfca. These include: 

Senecio cinerea 

Echium maritimum 

Iberfs semperf lorens 

Poterkum spPnosum 

(Sanguisorba spinosum) 

The ocly Tunisian location of Calendula suffruticosa is Zembra. Rare and 

endemic species include (~aulthier 1978, IUCN 1987, Radford and Peterken 

1969): 

T Scabiosa farinosa (cap Bon only) 

rT Diarthus rupicola hemaensis (cap Bon only) 

r Avena longiglumis 

r Meliotus alegans 

T Melica minuta ssp euminuta 

NA Ferula ticgitana (cap Bon and Oran, ~lgersa) 

r Silene neglecta 

r Erodium hymenoides 

v Sisymbrium polyceratum 

v Brassica cretica atlantica 

r E. maritimum 

r Lavatera punctata 

TA Sedam tuberosam 

................................................... 

v = Very Rare NA = North African Endemic 

r = Rare TA = ~unisia/~l~eria Ecdemic 

T = Tunisia Endemic 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Askde from small rodents and bats, the only mammal on the 

island that is probably native is the Maghreb subspecies of the European 

rabbit. In areas where rabbits congregate, they can virtually eliminate 

Brassica cretica and Daucus carotta by grazing. Myomatosis drastically 

reduced the rabbit population in the past, but in 1977 Snane still 

estimated 10 rabbits per hectare near-Cappo Crosso and 3 per ha around 

Calla Freda and Air Kabar. 

Introduced species include abundant black rats Rattus rattus 

alexandrus, which are preyed upon by feral cats. Some European mouflon 

- Ovis musimon were introduced to the island, as well as feral goats and 

sheep, which are now causing overgrazing and soil compaction problems - 

especially the goats. 

Endangered monk seals were observed on the Zembra coast in the past 

(IUCN 19871, but there have been no reports in recent years. Commoc 

dolphics are often observed near the coast. 

- 

Birds. Of the 140 bird species recorded for the Zembra archipelago, 

most are migratory. Some species stop at the islands for ocly a few days 

while others remain most of the year. The lack of a dense herb layer 

under the shmb formations results in a lack of nesting cover acd a lox 

prodaction of icsects for insectivores to prey oc (~nane 1977). Both

factors increase predation on upland ground nestkng birds; therefore, not . 

many resident nesting upland bird species have been recorded for Zembra. 

Some rather large populations of sea birds nest on the islands. A 

colony of c.20,000 - 25,000 Cory's shearwaters nests there (IUCN 1987). 

This is one of the largest known Cory's ehearwater colonies in their 

entire range (Snane 1977), and the only other known nesting location in 

Tunisia is the Galite archipelago. There are also nestkng colon5es of 

herring gulls and endangered Audouin's gulls and peregrine falcons, giving 

the site knternational importance. The main resident nesting birds are: 

Cory' s shearwater Shag 

Herring gull (900 pairs) t Peregrine (1 1-13 pairs) 

t Audouin's gull (10 pairs) Rock dove 


Mkgratory birds, many of which are likely to nest on the islands, icclude: 

Kestrel Fan-tailed warblar 

Long-legged buzzard Corn bunting 

Blue rock thrush House sparrow 

Long-tailed tit (uncommor) Goldfinch 

Coal tit Raven 

Non-nesting migrants include: 

Gannet 

Grey heron 

Little egret 

White stork 

Black stork 

Crace 

Black kite 

Short-toed eagle 

Sparrowhawk 

Buzzard 

Honey buzzard 

Booted .eagle 

Egyptian vulture 

Marsh harrier 

Hen harrier 

Eleonora's falcon 


Cuckoo 

Quail 

Wren 

Blackcap 

Whitethroat 

Bonnelli's warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Goldcrest 

Spotted flycatcher 

Red-backed shrike 

Yellow wagtail 

Grey wagtail 

Tree pipit 

Water pipit 

Swallow 



Redstart 

Stonrchat 


Blackbird 

Dunnock 

Herpetofauna. The reptiles and amphibians of Zembra have not been 

well studied, but Snane (1977) made a partial list, including: 

Psammodromus algirus ( common) 

Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus 

Challokdes ocellatus (commoc) 

Coluber hipporrepis - (snake) 

Phyllodactylus europaeus (probable) Malpolon monspressulanus " 

Caretta caretta caretta- marine turtle Cornella girondica 

'I

C. Influences 

During the successive periods of control by various nations through 

history, several vegetatioc degradation and regeneration cycles have 

occurred on Zembra. Degradation of the climax vegetation types by 

cultivatior, grazing, burnicg acd woodcutting encouraged invasion by more 

xeric species and eliminated some less xeric species (~nane 1977). The 

prolonged human activity resulted in the evolutkon of the present shrub 

communities acd the absence of oaks, which would otherwise be the climax 

forest type of the island. 

After 1900 agriculture and population pressure decreased, but 

occasiooal fires continued. After 1963 tourism began to increase. By 

1977 tourist use had only reached the lowest part of the alluvial platn, 

but the effects were great enough to decrease speckes diversity. On steep 

slopes where the vegetatioo cover is inadequate, the erosion rate equals 

the soil formatioc rate. Human interference accelerates the soil loss. 

To protect this unique and internatiocally important natural area the 

ectire archipilago and a 1.5 mile marice zone were designated as Tunisia's 

first catiocal park and biosphere reserve in 1977. Plans for tourism and 

protsctior acd echaccemect of the fauna and flora were made, but very 

little has beer implemected, largely due to the fact that the island was 

later placed under military coctrol. 

3.2. Kuriate 

The Kariate islacds ari two relatively small emergences E-NE of 

Monastir and E-SE of Sfax. The main island is aboxt 2.5 km long by 2 km 

wide, with an area of about 350 ha. It lies 16 km from the mainland 

(~ocastir) and 2 km from the smaller island. The small island is ocly 

abodt 100 ha in size - much of which is ictertidal flats and lowland. 

Liki thi mairland at Sousse, to which the islands were once connected, 

Kuriate is formed of a limestone substrate overlaic by calcareous and 

sandstori crusts topped by a thin layer of sand deposited by the sea. The 

islands are low and flat - always less than 10 m ASL and usually only a 

few meters above sea level. The sea bottom slopes very gradually away 

from the islacds and does not reach 50 m depth until more than 10 km out 

to sea. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Approximately one-third of the main island ia a low sebkhet-like 

deprissioc with an outlet to the sea. The center of the depression is a 

few hectares of bare sand surrounded by a haolphile association of 

Arthrocnemum acd Halocnemum. On higher ground, dominant plants include: 

NAS Limociastrum guyociacum Euphorbia paralias 

Pistacia lectisc~s Frankexka sp 

Crataeg~s azarolus Tamarix sp.

B. Fauna 

Kuriate is one of the three Tuniskan locations (along with Calite and 

emb bra) where the Maghreb subspecies of the european rabbit is found. The 

rabbit population is unknown, but several rabbit burrows were noted on an 

icspection of the main island in October, 1987. Rodents also occur on the 

island, but species lists or other records were not found by the author. 

Birds include sedentary sardinian warblers, migratory passerines, such as 

brambling, and most of the birds recorded for the Gulf of Hammamet 

(~ectioc 3.1.3). 

C. Influences 

There is a lighthouse complex and a marabout on the ksland, which 

occupy some of the scarce habitat space, but the makn human caused 

icfluence on the ecosystem appears to be overgrazing by the lighthouse 

keeper's sheep and goats. All of the Crataegus and many Pistacia bushes 

are severelv browsed and stunted. Some vegetation cutting - and ca~ture of 

birds acd rabbits by the residents also seems likely. Erosion isresulticg 

in shorelice degradation that may lead to signsficact decreases 

in surface area of thi maic island. 

3.2.5. Kerkennah 

The Kerkecnah archipelago lies 22 km east of Sfax, at the northern end 

of the Galf of Gabes. Two main islands, Isle Rharbi ("west 1sland") and 

Isle Chergai ("~ast islandi') form a 22 km long strip oriented NE-SW, 

parallel to the coast. Isle Rharbi is the closest to the mainland with a 

micimnm distacce of 21 km to Rass Sfax. 

Isle Chergui is the largest island, approximately 6400 ha including 

the low marshy areas. Isle Rharbi is 5400 ha in size. Within two km of 

Isle Chergui are 3 small islands: Isle Sefnou (80 ha) to the NW, Isle 

Roumedia (200 ha) to the north md Isle Khermedi (250 ha) to the east. 

The archipelago is on a shallow platform (van Dijk 1986) and at low tide 

c.3600 ha of tidal flats are exposed. 

A large plain once extended from Sfax to beyond Kerkennah. The rising 

sea level flooded the lower areas around Kerkennah and left a low flat 

archipelago. Neither islands rises more than 50 m above sea level. Steep 

banks occur in some places, but most of the shoreline recedes gently into 

the sea. The sea bottom is less than 10 m deep for several kilometers and 

does not reach 50 km depth until a minimum of 32 km from the islands. 

Shallow waters less than 50 m deep extend as far as 140 km from the coast 

( ~ jai a and Zaarah 1981 ). 

A limestoce bedrock substrate is topped by silty soil, .boulders and 

caliche, or by sacd acd sandy clay (Van Dijk 1986). Intertidal areas have 

sandy sabstrates, oftec covered by or mixed with silt or clay.

A. Vegetation 

Most of the high ground is dominated by uncultivated palm trees 

Phoenix dact lifera. Olives were cultivated on the islands as early as 

the fifi+(Burollet 1927). Lygeum spartum grows beneath the palms 

in gypsous areas and there are scattered locations of- tripartitum, 

Juncus, Pituranthos tortuosa, and several species of grasses and other 

annuals - a ll of which are heavily razed by goats and sheep. Many of the 

species of annual plants found on the island of Jerba (Section 3.2.6) 

could also be expected to occur on Kerkennah. Depressions have a 

moderately dense ground cover of: 

NAS Limoniastrum guyonianum Frankenia sp . 

Zygophy llum album Lyceum europaeum 

Limonium sp. 

NAS = North African Sahara Endemic 

Shorelines and sebkhets that are frequently inundated by seawater 

often support halophile associations characterized by Ha1ocnem.m and 

Arthroccemum (~ac Dijk 1986). Intertidal areas are often covered by 

Cymodoecea meadows. 

B. Fauna 

Mamaals. The mammalian fauna of Kerkernah is relatively poor. Many 

species have been eliminated by hunting pressure and loss of habitat to 

cultivation and overgrazing. Algerian hedgehogs, brown hares, bats and a 

variety of rodents are still common on the islands, but other species are 

scarce. 

- 

Birds. A variety of sedentary and migratory birds have beer recorded 

on Kerkennah. The lack of high cliffs and dense forest cover restricts 

nesting birds to some extent, but the long stretches of sandy beaches 

invite a number of shorebirds. Most shorebirds listed for the Gulf of 

Gabes (section 3.1.4) also occur on Kerkennah. Other species include: 

Crane Great grey shrike Blackbird 

Stone curlew Meadow pipit Skylark 

Barbary partridge White wagtail Wood lark 

Palm dove Stonechat Crested lark 

Hoopoe Moussier's redstart Starling 

Swallou Robin Spotless starling 


Vegetatioc under the palm trees is so overgrazed that by autumn only 

scattered unpalatable plants remain. This leaves the ground quite barren 

with little cover for fauna. Cultivation icfluences the fauna and flora 

near the cities. Vegetables are grow. where the salinity level of the 

soil is low and there are many orchards and olive groves. Residects 

farther affect the flora by collecting vegetatioc for fuel acd fodder.

Fishermen construct long barricades made of wooden poles on the 

kntertidal flats to direct fish into traps and many people walk on the 

intertidal flats to collect mussels and other seafood. These activities 

affect more than the species collected; vegetation is also trampled. 

Large amounts of land are occupied by seven cities, roads and garbage 

dumps. Several cemetaries exist, which have a positive influence on the 

native vegetation by providing areas relatively free from disturbance. 

Several tourist hotels have been constructed and a large section of 

beach is heavily used in the summer by tourists. The intensive 

concentration in one area could accelerate ecosystem degeneration in the 

tourism zone if proper management practices are not followed. However, 

concentrating tourist use in one area does lessen tmpacts on the rest of 

the island. 

3.2.6. Kneiss 

A former coastline and estuary were washed away by the post-glacial 

rise in sea level, leaving the Kneiss islands and intertidal flats (van 

Dijk 1986). The Knekss islands are 57 km straight line distance from both 

Sfax and Gabes. The main island is about 1.5 km from the mainland proper, 

but due to the shallow water, low tfdes expose much of the area between 

the island and the coast. Kneiss is part of the large intertidal complex 

of the Gulf of Gabes (section 3.1.4). 

Kneiss is composed of a main island (~zirat el ~essila) of 650 ha and 

a row of four smaller islets to the south. The small islets, named Dzirat 

el Hajar, DzTrat el Laboua and El Jazirat el Rharbia (2 islets) each have 

an area of 1 to 2 ha. All five islets are flat and low. A limestone base 

is oftec bordered by sandy beaches with rocks and pebbles mixed in or on 

top. Adjacent intertidal areas may have several layers of sand and 

sediments. 

A. Vegetation 

Tides have a great effect on the vegetatson of Kneiss. Even on the 

higher ground, where tidal waters seldom reach, sea spray keeps the 

environment saline enough to encourage a predominance of halophile 

vegetation. ~alocnemum~strobilaceum-and ~alimone portulacoid~s with some 

Spartina sp. dominates hkgh ground vegetation. Inland on the main ksland, 

Arthrocnemum, Suaeda and some species of herbaceous plants similar to 

those found in halophile assoctations on the mainland, are likely to 

occur. .On the intertidal flats, Zostera noltii forms extensive meadows. 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. The small skze and halophile vegetation of Kneiss severely 

restricts the species of mammals that can inhabit the islands. Sand rats 

have been recorded (van Dijk 1986) and some other rodects probably occur, 

bat permanently residing large mammals are absent.

- Birds. Kneiss is such an important part of the Gulf of Gabes coastal' 

complex that virtually all of the waders and waterfowl recorded in section 

3.1.4 are found on or around the Kneias islands. Passerines, nesting and 

threatened species include: 

n Little egret 

n Redshank 

n Slender-billed gull 

n Common tern 

n Little tern 

t White stork 


t Peregrine 


r = Nesticg Birds 

C. Icfluences 

Marsh harrier 

Lesser short-toed lark 

Skylark 

Meadow pipkt 

Water pipit 

White wagtail 



Human icfluecces on Kneiss date back to the Roman empire, as evidenced 

by raics and artifacts oc each of the islands. Currently the main island 

is inhabited by temporary residents who fish and collect carpet shells 

Venerupis decassata and V. aurea. Residents from villages on the mainland 

also fish and collect bivalves in the area. Ic the spring of 1984 there 

wera 80 - 100 peopla collecting bivalves in the area (van Dijk 1986). The 

exploitatioc affacts the food sourca of many species of fauna (especially 

~~stercatchers), disrupts the vegetation cover and may disturb birds 

duricg the cesticg seasoc. 

3.2.6. Jerba 

A t the south end of the Gulf of Gabes lies Jerba, Tunisia's largest 

islacd. Jerba acd the circumjerbian islands are the closest archipelago 

to the maiclacd. A t the closest point Jerba 2s only 2 km from Rass e l 

Djerf acd at th2 soatheast point a 7 km bridge connects Jerba to the 

mainland. Jerba is 58 km E-SE of Gabes and 23 km N-NW of Zarzis. 

Roughly 30 km long by 20 km wide, Jerba covers 50,000 ha with an 

additional 3000 ha of coastal marsh and intertidal zones. The 3 largest 

of the circumjerbian islands, Djillidj, Adjsm and Djorf, are on the south 

side, between Jerba and the coast. Although the largest of the 

circumjerbiac islands have only a few hundred hectares of high ground 

each, there are many smaller islands and low marshy areas which total 3500 

to 4000 ha (0lney 1965). 

There are cliffs 2 - 10 m high of friable sandstone and limestone 

aroucd Jerba (Var Barghen 1977). Inland, above sandstoce and limestone 

crasts are sacdy, oftec silty soils with many gypsous locations. The land 

gectly andalates at aboat 10 m above sea level and drops to coastal 

lagoons, sebkhats acd dune areas along thi coast. Dines are gecerally 

ucstabli acd form littoral bands 30 - 100 m wide. Behicd those dunes is a 

complix of stable, or 'fixed', dunes that were vegetated locg ago.

A. Vegetation 

Most of Jerba has been cultivated to date palms, olives, various fruit 

trees and vegetables. The rest is so overgrazed that only a poor 

representatioc of the native vegetation remains. Inland, on the higher 

ground, a group of nitrophilic species is found. Thoae species include 

- Malva parviflora, Aizoon hispanicum and Peganum hannala. Around the areas 

of nitrophilic species are warmer locations with 5460 ha characterkzed by 

a ~ituranthos tortuosa and Haplophgllum venniculata association (~u~horbia 

eerrata v a r i a n m ha with an Artemesia herba-alba and Arthrophytum 

scoparium association (~ymnocar~os decander sub association, Asphodelis 

microcarpos variant) and 34,000 ha characterieed by an A. microcarpus 

variant of the Zarzis peninsula association ( ~ Houerou e and Froment 1969). 

Van Berghen (1977) noted two major associatkons on the dunes between 

Bordj Kastil and Bordj Djellidj composed of 32 species: one on the low 

dunes charactsrized by Agropyron farctum and the other on the high dunes, 

characterized by Ammophila arenaria. Annuals compose 56% of the 

vegetetioc. 

Oc the wsst and north sides of Jerba there are coastal dunes vegetated 

by spscies groaps characterized by A. arenaria and Agropyrum unceum or 

Cakile maritima ar.d Medicago marina7~e Houerou and Proment ;*Where 

the dune sands are more salkne, such as in the northwest corner and on the 

east side of Jerba, a gypso-halophile associatkon of Nitraria retusa, 

Suaeda vsrmiculata and Salsola sieberi var vesceritensis is found. In the 

depressiocs betwsec the dunes there are 6 major plant associations 

compossd of 83 species (van Bsrghsn 1979): 

1. A single species aquatic association (water 1-4 m deep) of Ruppia 

cirrhosa var drepansis. 

2. A pionser community on wet sands with Riella notarissi and some 

Chare vulgaris. 

3. Very open cover with Limonium tunetanurn and Aeluropus lagopoides. 

4. Alocg depression edges, Juncus maritimus var arabius occurs. 

5. A Schoenus nigrans association on water-holding substrates. 

6. A pioneer cornmucity with Frankenia pulverulenta. 

Along the coast are found: 

Halocnemum etrobilaceum Juncus maritimus 

Limoniastrum guyonianum Atriplex halimus 

Zygophyllum album Limoniurn ep. 

Tamarix africana (sparse) 

Rare placts include Peganum hamala var. garamanteum. 

Mammals. Nary fox have been released on Jerba by departing tourists 

who p~rzhased fox kits and found that they were unable to take them out of 

the coactry. The introdxed fox are now so numerous that they have 

virtaally elirnicated barbary partridge from the island (A. Abed, pers. 

corn). Brom hares were similarily ictrodaced by tourists, but have been

overhunted end almost eliminated. Other reported species include: 

Fennec fox 

Le rot 

Shaw' s jird 

Gerbil 

Fennecus zerda 

- Birds. A large proportion of the waders and waterfowl listed for the 

Gulf of Gabes (Section 3.1.4) can be seen at the intertidal flats of 

Jerba. Turtle doves and cranes are also reported to use the island. Some 

of the upland birds observed in November 1987 include: 

C. Influences 

Marsh harrier 

Rock dove 

Hoopoe 


Sardinian warbler 

Stonechat 

Raven 

Almost all of the upland area of Jerba is cultivated or developed, 

leaving little land for natural vegetatkon associations or animal habitat. 

Intense cultivation has also resulted in wfnd erosion and soma dune 

formation. Hotel construction destroyed fragile vegetatioc cover and 

resulted in wind erosioc in several locatiocs (van Berghic 1977).

3.3. WETLANDS 

In this docamect the term 'wetland' refers to permanent and temporary 

fresh or brackish water bodies and their adjacent floodplain or zone of 

influence. This includes all inland rivers and water bodies, coastal salt 

lakes and marine lakes, (figure 6) but excludes the Mediterranean coast, 

which is described in Section 3.1. Tunisia has more than 100 permanent 

and temporary wetlands, many of which are of international importance. 

Host of the wetlands are in the northern half of the country, especially 

near the coast, and there is a fair interspersion almost everywhere but in 

the Sahara. 

Wstlands permit a variety of plant species to grow in ecosystems that 

are otherwise often somewhat homoganous - especially in the steppes. 

Numerous invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals take 

advantage of the cover and nutritiocal productivity of wetlands. Each 

year mora than 75,000 flamingos, 400,000 anatids of many species, and 

250,000 coots and moorhens use ~unisia's wetlands for nesting, migration 

rest stops or wictering locations (Dir. Env. 1977). Macy spscies of rare 

and endemic plants and animals are also found at wetlands. 

Unfortunately, many of Tunisia's wetlands are being detrimentally 

influencad by industrial complexes, urbac expansion, agricultural 

developmsnt projects (dams, drainage), pesticide use, hunting pressure, 

pollution and dessication (Dir . Env. 1977). The Tunisian government has 

taken steps to protect some of the principal sites by creating permanent 

ressrves and national parks (~ectioc 5.4). Howaver, the mers designation 

of protected areas is often insufficiant in the face of heavy population 

and economic pressures, as evidenced by the filling of Lake Tunis (see 

3.3.1.3). 

The factors that wetlands are most secsitiva to inclade: 

Activities affecting water levels 

Upstream dams 

Draining of marshland for cultivation 

Changes in water quality 

Abnormal inputs of seawater or saline runoff 

Chemical pollutants - herbicides, sewage, chemical waste 

Actions reducing wetland areas 

Cultivation of edge zones 

Adjacent urban development 

Filling and construction

nediterranean 

. ..- Se 

Figure 6 

Wetlands of Tunisia 

1. Lake 1chkeul 

2. Lake Bizerte 

3. Lake Tunis 

4. Lake Monastir 

. 5. Monastir Salines 

6. Thyna Salt Ponds 

7. Bahiret el Bibant 

8. Sebkhet Ariana 

9. Skt. Sedjoumi 

10. Skt. Kourzia 

11. Skt. Kelbia 

12. Skt. Sidi el Han: 

13. Skt. el Djem 

14. Skts. Sidi Hanso 

and En Noual 

15. Jeffara Complex 

16. Skt. el Guettar 

17. Skt. el Hamma 

18. Chott Fejij 

19. Chott Jerid 

20. Chott El Gharsa 

21. Kebili Lakes 

A. Lake Chitane 

B. Lake el Fie1 

C. Lake Zerkine 

D. Oued Essed Pools 

E. Dar Fatma Bog

3.3.1 . Harkne Lakes and Lagoons 

3.3.1.1. Lake Ichkeul 37'10'N g040'E 

Ichkeul is a permanent, brackish lake in the plain of Mateur at the 

north end of Tunfsia. The lake is 20 km southwest of Bizerte and 60 km N- 

NW of Tunis. During summer, when the water level is low, Lake Ichkeul has 

an area of about 8500 ha and is surrounded by 2737 ha of marshes (El- 

Ghezal 1982). After winter rains raise the water level, the surface area 

is about 10,000 ha. 

At its highest winter level, the maximum lake depth is only 3.7 m. 

Summertime depth is usually around 1.5 m. The shallow depth and low 

sloping sides result in the drastic seasonal changes in surface area. On 

the south side of the lake is Djebel Ichkeul (see Section 3.4.1.6), which 

rises to 508 m altitude. Five perma ent rivirs and seve a1 temporary 

9 

streams, draining a basin of 2089 km feed 335 million mf of water 

annually into Lake Ichkeul (~1-~hezal 1982). The proportioc of icput, by 

river, is Sejnane 30$, Joumine 489, Melah 12%, Ghezala 3% and Doumis 3%. 

Alocg with fresh water, the rivers also carry ac average of one 

million cubic meters of sediments from erosion into the lake. gbout 75% 

of the sediments are evacuated by Oued Tinja, leaving 250,000 m of 

sediments to settle on the lake bottom. The effects of this high rate of 

sedimentation are illustrated by the fact that during Carthaginiac times 

the lake had an area of 30,000 ha and completely surroanded Djebel 

Ichkeul. Today only one third of that area remains as opec water, all to 

the north of Dj. Ichkeul (~1-~hezal 1982). 

Oued Tinja connects Lake Ichkeul to Lake Bizerte, which is connected 

to the sea. In the summer, when the water level drops due to evaporatior 

and decreased input, salt water flows into Lake Ichkeul via Oued Ticja. 

A. Vagetatioc 

The vegetation of Lake Ichkeul and the surrounding mershes is 

interspersed and varied, but there is a general pattern of vegetation 

types radiating out from the center of the lake. Ic the open water 

Potamogeton pectinatus dominates the submergent vegetation, especially in 

the west end where it is an important food source for waterfowl. Another 

submergent common kn winter is Zannichellia palustris. Enteromorpha 

intestinalis, Chara sp., Ruppia maritima and Callitriche palustris are 

common summer species (~or~an 1982; Zouali 1975). 

At the edge of the lake, bands of reeds Phrapites 

the lake from the marshes and shoreline. Beyond the reeds, Scirpus 

maritimus, ,& and Juncus subulatus dominate the marshes. Typha 

angustifolia grows along channels through the marshes, whose higher banks 

are fringed by Tamarix africana. In saltier locations Salicornia arabica 

and Suaeda maritima dominate halophile associatiors. Or higher groand, 

Hordeam maritimum, Lolium multiflor>m, Daucus carota, Nerium oleacder and 

Zizyphas lotus appear. More complete vegetatior informatior is givec ir 

UCL 1977, Morgan 1982 and IUCN 1987.

Rare Species. The marshes of Lake Ichkeul are one of the few sites in 

Tunisia where the rare Ranunculus ophioglossum and Sparuanium erectum have' 

beer recorded. 

B. Fauca 

Mammals. Many of the mammals that inhabit Djebel Ichkeul descend into 

the marshes to feed. Algerian hedgehog, four species of bat h hi no lo hus 

-7- 

ferrum-equinum, R. euryale, Myotis myotis, Minopterus echreibersii 

Egyptiac mongoose, jackal, red fox, brown hare, rodents (Jaculus 

orientalis and others) and wild boar are among the mammals recorded at 

lake Ichkaul (UCL 1977). Otters Lutra lutra are a rare epecies in Tunisia 

that also use the Lake Ichkeul marshes. A emall, eemi-wild herd of 

buffalo Bubalis bubalis has become establbhed after re-introduction in 

the 1970x~ection 2.4, ~auna). 

Birds. Lake Ichkeul is the most important single wetland for birds in 

North Africa (carp 1980) and one of the most important sites in the entire 

Mediterranean region (IUCN 1987). Approximately 4% of the known world 

popalatioc of the rare white-headed duck were observed at Ichkeul in May, 

1977 (UCL 1977) and they have been known to breed there in the past (carp 

1980). The laka is also a traditional nesting skte for the threatened 

marblad teal acd macy other birds (see figure 7). 

Migraticg birds use the lake extensively since it is one of the last 

renaicicg freshwater (salinity is < 5 g/l in winter) lakes in North 

Africa. A t the peak of the winter migration 150,000 to 200,000 ducks and 

coots acd 5,000 to 7,000 greylag geese are present (carp 1980) along with 

thousands of waders. The high aumbers of wintering wigeon (39,000) 

shoveler (6,500) and pochard (1 20,000) are of international importance 

based oc tha Heiligenhafen criteria gr organ 1982). Greylag goose and 

pochard cumbers are the highest for wintering populations in the Maghreb 

(IUCI? 1987). Hore than 200 bird species have been recorded for Djebel and 

Lake Ichkeul. The most comprehensive bird list (skinner 1986) includes 

birds fomd both oc the rnouctain and at the lake, and since many of the 

moactaic species descend to the marsh edges to feed and drink, the entire 

list is riprodacid in figure 7. 

Icvertebrates. The salinity level limits the invertebrate fauna of 

the lake to salt tolerant species and restricts the less tolerant species 

to the marshes. Although the number of recorded invertebrate species is 

only aroacd 26 (UCL 1977), the dominant species are present in large 

numbers. In the open waters of the infralittoral zone, zooplankton such 

as Copepoda and dense Mysidacea (~rustacea) are found, 

invertebrates such as 

along with 

Amaledia: Nereis diversicolor Mercierella enigmatica 

Cristacea: Sphaeroma hookeri Idothea balthica, 

Gammarus aequicauda Corophium volutator 

C. acherusicum 

Moll.isca: Hydrobia vectrosa 

Abra ternis 

Cerastoderma glaucum

the number of species (zouali 1975) is highest at the east end (20) and 

lowest at the west end (5). The medtolittoral eone contains dense 

Potamogeton beds that have abundant invertebrate populations and are 

important feeding areas for fish and waterfowl. Dominant species include: 

Hydrobia ventrosa 

Sphaeroma hookeri 

Nere5s diversf color 

Idothea vkridks 

In the waters of the infralittoral eone (marsh edge), fluctuations in 

water level, temperature and salimity are unfavorable for &vertebrate 

populations (zouali 1975). However, the Djoumine marsh has freshwater 

channels that contain the richest and most diverse aquatic fauna b the 

area (UCL 1977). Characteristic species knclude dragonflies, alderflies 

Sialis sp., Corixid water bugs, water scorpions Nepa sp., Dytiscid water 

beetles, crustaceans (~ssellus) , freshwater molluscs Limnea sp., flatworms 

Turbellaria sp. and other freshwater species not found in the lake or 

acywhere else in the area in such abundance. 

- Fish. Several species of fish are exploited by commercial fishermen 

at Ousd Tinja (zoaali 1975); these include: 

Anguilla anguilla Mugil cephalus 

Dicentrarchus labrax M. ramada 

Barbas barbus Solea solea 

Alosa fallax Aphanhs fasciatus 

Syngnathus abaster Engraulis encrasicholus 

Herpitofauna. The distribution of reptiles and amphibians is 

influenced by ths water level and salinsty in the lakes and marshes. 

Dominant species and their habitat types are: 

C. Influences 

5 Rana ridibunda 1 Malpolon monspessalanus 

1.2 Bafo viridis 1,3,4 Natrix maura 

4 B. bufo 2,4 Discoglossus p2ctus 

2,4 B. maaritan2cus 2,3,4 Clemmys leprosa 

1 Lacerta ocellata 4 Emys orbicularis 

1 = upper marsh 3 = brackish water 5 = A l l 4 habitats 

2 = lower marsh 4 = fresh water 

Although Lake Ichkeul is included En Ichkeul National Park, human 

influences are still affecting the the environment. The marshes are 

overgrazeed by cattle to the point that the buffalo become malnourished 

(IUCN 1987); fishing is still done at Oued Tinja and sometimes in the 

lake; aod occasional poaching occurs. Non-marsh areas around the lake are 

cultivated and runoff water from the fields contain sediments and possibly 

chemical pollutants. 

A cacal was dag through the Djoumine marsh by the Rural Works 

department. The Rural works department does not consider the canal 

necessary, but so far no action has been taken to fill the canal. As 

water drains from the marsh into the canal, the vegetation composition 

changes acd the habitat value for waterfowl decreases.

n Little grebe 

n Great created grebe 


Cormorant 

Btttern 

n Least bittern 

n Night heron 

Squacco heron 

Cattle egret 

Little egret 

Great white heron 

r! Grey heron 

n Purple heron 

Black stork 

t White stork 

Glossy ibis 

Spoonbill 


Swar. spp. 

Bear. goose 

White-fronted goose 

Griylag goose 

Bar-headed goose 

Scow goose 

Barnacle goose 

Raddy sheldack 

Shelduck 

Wigeon 

Teal 

Mallard 


Garganey 

Shoveler 

t Marbled teal 

Red-crested pochard 

Pochard 

n Ferrugirous duck 

Tilfted duck 

tn White-headed duck 

Figure 7 

Birds of Ichkeul 

(from Skinner 1986) 

n Black-winged atilt Tawny pipit 

Avocet Tree pip2t 

Stone curlew Weadow pipit 

n Pratincole Red-throated pipit 

Little ringed plover Water pkpit 

Ringed plover n Yellow wagtail 

n Kentish plover Grey wagtail 

Dotterel White wagtail 

Golden plover Bulbal 

Grey plover Wren 

Lapwing Dun~ack 

Little stint Alpine accentor 

Temminck' s stint n Rafoas bashchat 

Sanderling Robir. 

Curlew sandpiper n Nightingale 

Dunlin Blaethroat 

Ruff Black redstart 

Jack snipe Redstart 

Snipe Moussier' s redstart 

Great scipe Whicchat 

Bar-tailed godwit Stonechat 

Black-tailed godwi t 1sabellir.e wheatear 

Curlew Commoc wheatear 

Whimbrel Black-eared wheatear 

Spotted redshank Black wheatear 

Redshank Blue rockthrush 

Greenshank Ring ouzel 

Harsh sandpiper Blackbird 

Green sandpiper Song thrush 

Wood sandpiper Redwirg 

Common sandpiper Mistli thrush 

Mediterranean gull Cetti' s warbler 

Little gull n Fan-tailed warbler 

Black-headed gull n Savi's warbler 

Slender-billed gull n Moustached warbler 

Lesser black back Sedge warbler 

Herring gull n Reed warbler 

Gull-billed tern n Great reed warbler 

Caspian tern n Olivaceous warbler

Honey buzzard 

Black kite 


Griffon vulture 


n Marsh harrier 

Hen harrier 

Pallid harrier 

Moataga's harriar 

Sparrowhawk 

Buzzard 

Long-legged buzzard 

Golden eagle 

Tawny eagle 

Bootad eagle 

Bocelli' s eagle 

Osprey 

Kestrel 

Red-footed falcon 

Merlic 

Hobby 

Eleonora's falcon 

Lacner falcon 

Saker falcon 

t Peregrice 

n Barbary partridge 

n Quail 

Water rail 

n Spotted crake 

Baillon' s crake 

Corncrake 

n Moorhen 

n Purple gallinule 

n Coot 

Andalusian hemipode 

Crane 

n Nesting Birds 

t Threatened Species 

Figure 7 (continued) 

Sandwich tern 

n Little tern 

Whiskered tern 

Black terr, 

White-winged b. tern 

B.-bellied sandgroase 

Rock dove 

Stock dove 

Turtle dove 

Palm dove 

Cuckoo 

scops owl 

Barr owl 

Eagle owl 

Little owl 


Nightjar 

Swift 

Pallid swift 

Alpine swift 


n Bee eater 

Roller 

Hoopoe 

Wryneck 

Calacdra lark 

n Lessar short-toed lark 

n Short-toed lark 

Thekla lark 

n Crested lark 

Skylark 

n Sand martin 

Crag martin 

Swallow 


Raven 

Icterice warbler 

Melodeoas warbler 

Marmora' s warbler 



Subalpine warbler 

Sardinian warbler 

Orphear warbler 

Whitethroat 

Blackcap 

Gardec warbler 

Bonelli's warbler 

Wood warbler 

Chif fchaff 

Willow warbler 

Goldcrest 

Firecrest 


Collared flycatcher 

Pied flycatcher 

Blue tit 

Golde~ orkole 

Bush shrike 



c Corr bxticg 


Hawf icch 

Licne t 

Goldficch 

Griicfi~ch 

Szric 

Chafficch 

Rock sparrow 

Spacish sparrow 


Spotless starlicg

By far the most serious problem threatening Lake Ichkeul is a series 

of 6 dams being constructed on all 5 of the main rivers flowing into the 

lake. The dams will severely reduce the freshwater input to the lake, 

resulticg ic lower summer water levels and increased influxes of seawater. 

Significant increases ic salinity will kill off much of the Potamogeton 

and Scirpus that currently attract waterfowl. If no mitigation actions 

are taken, the habitat value will drop sharply, with serious ramifications 

for macy species of birds and the natural integrety of the national park. 

Hollis ( 1986) recommended five possible schemes for ameliorating the 

effects of the dams. None of the actions has been due to indecision by 

responsable agents and a lack of finances for the projects. The 

recommended actions include filling the Djoumine marsh; installing a weir 

or slaice at Oued Tinja to control water flow; building dykes to reduce 

the area of the lake, thus reducing salinity; and reservoir releases when 

the lake is below 10 cm ASL. 

- 

3.3.1.2. Lake Bizerte 

Lake Bizerte is cocnected to, and lies northeast of, Lake Ichkeul. 

The lake area is aboat 13,000 ha and fluctuates slightly with the tides. 

Water ic Lake Bizerte is saline, but during winter and spring, water 

enterieg from Lake Ichkeul through Oued Tinja lowers the salinity to 

slightly less thac that of seawater (35 g/l). A t its deepest po2ct the 

lake is 12 m deep and most of the lake is deeper thac 2 m. The adjacent 

terrair is gectly andulating with a low marsh on the east side. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Most of the shoreline has been cultivated or developed. In the marsh 

at the east sidi the parts that have not been cultivated or developed 

support halophile vegetation. Marine flora totals 145 species (~aouli 

1980). The number of species decreases close to Oued Tinja due to the 

lower salicity, bat marine Phacerogames such as Zostera marina and Ruppia 

maritime cac be foacd. Other marine Phanerogames growing in the lake 

icclude Zostera coltii betweec 0.5 m and 1 m deep (especially on the north 

side) end Cymodocea codosa at dapths between 1 and 2 m. Algaes found in 

the shallow waters include: 

Chlorophyceaes : 

Ulva lactuca 

Entermorpha compressa 

Chaetomorpha linum (rare) 

Cladophora prolifera (rare) 

C. laetevirecs 

Caalerpa prolifera 

Pheophyceaes: 

Cystoskirs abmtacifolia 

Dictyota abrotanifolia 

Dicty~pteris polupodioides 

Padica pavoria ( rare) 

Rhodophyceaes: 

Lithohamnium fruticulosum 

L. lenormandi 

Jania rubens (rare) 

Corralina officinalis 

Laurencia papillosa ( rare) 

Gracilaria confervoides (rare) 

Posidonia oceanica 

Acetalbularia mediterranea 

Halimedia tuna

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Red fox, jackal, brown hare, Algerfan hedgehog, and Egyptian 

mongoose are likely to be found in the area. Bernard (1969) reported the 

presence of several rodents such as Shawls jird, gerbil Gerbillus 

campestris and field mouse Apodemus sylvaticus in the area. 

- 

Birds. The lake is too deep for extensive bird use, such as that 

which occurs at Lake Ichkeul. Many of the species of waders, terns and 

galls that use Ichkeul also occur in smaller numbers at Lake Bizerte. 

Species noted on the east aide of the lake 3n August 1987 include herring 

gull, white-winged black tern, little egret and swallow. 

Marice Fauna. The marine fauna, as reported by Zaouli (1980), 

consists of: 

C . Influences 

Sponges: 

Polychetes: 

Suberites domunicula 

Nereis diversicolor 

Clathria coralloides Perenereis cultrif era 

Leuconia aspera Hermioce hystrix 

Amphytechne auricoma 

Cnidaires: Sabella pavonia 

Anemonia sulcata 

Bunodactis verrucosa 

Ficopomatas enigmaticus 

Hydroides elegans 

H. dirampha 

Vermf liopsis striaticeps 

Pileolaria millitaris 

Jania pseudocormgata 

Extensive cultivation and development around Lake Bizerte has reduced 

the available habitat. Fishing and boating activity disturb avifauna and 

commercial fishing skews the fish population structure. 

3.3.1.3. Lake Tunis 36'50' N 10°16* E 

Between the capitol city-of Tunis and the sea lies Lake Tunis. The 

lake is actually a large (4500 ha) shallow lagoon that formed when an 

accreting sandy barrier spit separated an open bay from the Mediterranean 

sea in the 16th century (Saubade and Rosso 1983). Lake Tunis is composed 

of three distinct ecosystems: North Lake, South Lake, and Navigation 

canal (~elkhir and Salem 1983). The North and South parts are always less 

than 2 m deep and the majority is less than 1 m deep. The navigation 

canal is c.5 m deep. Lake Tunis is connected to the sea by the Khereddine 

cacal ic the corth and the Rades canal in the south. There is one small 

island, Chikli, on which there are the remains of an old fortress.

A. . Vegetation 

Lake Tunis is a highly eutrophic, brackish lake, so there is not a 

hfgh diversity of vegetation. The outlet to the sea is oftec choked by 

eea lettuce % sp. and calcified tubes of Mercurella ecigmatica (carp 

1980). Algae mats form on the stagnant water during the summer. 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Due to the high degree of development, only occasional 

jackals, fox or hares would be expected to occur at the lake. Bernard 

(1969) listed Shaw's jird, gerbil Gerbillus campestris and jerboa Jaculus 

orientalis for the area. Some species of bats also occur. 

- 

Birds. Chikli island is one of only two or three little egret nesting 

areas ic Tunisia. Cormorants, herring gulls and kestrels also nest on the 

island. Mallards and marbled teal nested at the lake ic the past (carp 

1980). Lake Tunis is very important for wintering great crested grebe and 

little grebe (825 in 1975), cormorant (1,000 - 1,500), flamingo (8,000 - 

10,000 ic 1984), pictail (1300 in 1972)~ shoveler (6,000 ic 1973), cattle 

egret, spoonbill and black-winged stilt (IUCN 1987; Carp 1980; Hollis 

1986). 

Rare species include peregrine falcon acd significart cumbers of the 

rare white-headed duck have been seen on the lake (44 in 1975 acd 666 in 

1973). Other birds foucd at Lake Tunis are: 


Grey heror. 

Greylag goose 

Shelduck 

Teal 

Tufted duck 

Osprey 

Marsh harrier 


Lapwing 


Commm sandpiper 


Redshank 

Greenshack 


C. Influences 



Little ringed plover 



Ruff 

Snipe 

Stone curlew 


Black-headed gall 

Medi terraneac gull 

Little tern 

Sandwich tern 

Gull-billed tern 


Hoopoe 

Swallow 

Meadow pipit 

Water pipit 

Grey wagtail 

Blae-headed wagtail 

White wagtail 


Sky lark 


Chiffchaff 

Reed bucting 

Robin . 

Linnet 



Spanish starling 

Although mucicipal law prohibits the discharge of pollutants into Lake 

Tunis (see Section 5.3), some dumping still occurs. Strong industrial 

pollutioc in certaic zones has decreased, if not elimicated some of the 

marine fauna (~aubade and Rosso 1983). Waste water was discharged icto 

the lake before 1981, but is now treated and cot retarcsd to the lake 

(IUCN 1987). The choked oatlet from the sea is also beirg cleared. 

Pollutacts and disturbacce from boats in the ravigatioc caral affect the

center and the lake edge is highly developed. There is a salt processing . 

area near Tunis where a sizable area has been sectioned off, but it is 

still used by waders and waterfowl. 

The most serious influence on the lake is a development project that 

has already filled 900 ha and is projected to fill at least 1,500 ha for a 

new section of the city of Tunis. The project will reduce the area 

available to waterfowland increase disturbance in the unfilled portion of 

the lake. This development is occuring in spite of the fact that Lake 

Tunis was designated a Protected Wetland in 1980 (see Section 5.4). 

3.3.1.4. Lake Monastir 

On the coast just south of Monastir and 160 km south of Tunis is Lake 

Monastir. More properly called a coastal lagoon, Lake Monastir is the 

site of the former Monastir salt ponds; abandonned ic 1952 ort tier 1977). 

The lagoon is formed by a sandy barrier spit that extends for 2.5 km along 

the coast and a final 0.5 km artificial rock bank that has been 

constructed at the south end to complete the barrier acd close off a 175 

ha water body. Canals at the north and south ends providi communication 

with the sea. Most of the lagoon is less thac 2 m deep, b~t the Office 

National des Peches (~ational Fisheries office) has dragged channels 2.5 - 

3.5 m deep to improve fssh production. The channels allow water to 

circulate betweec the 2 canals to the sea, and in good weather a current 

provides partial water replacement every 6 hours. 

A. Vegetation 

Mortier (1977) described 5 zones in the lagoon: 

1. Cymodocea zone. 

stagnant waters. 

Dense Cymodocea nodosa dominates the shallow non- 

2. Caulerpa zone. In the deeper, more turbid and less frequently 

recewed waters and in parts of the canals the more tolerant 

Caulerpa prolifera grows. 

3. Greec filamentous algae - zone. Some parts attain extreme levels of 

temperature and salinity during periods, restricting growth of 

Cymodocea and resulting in the formation of algae mats. 

4. 

5. 

Shallow muddy-sand zone. Unvegetated. 

Deep stagnant zone. Turbid and unvegetated canals. 

B. Fauna 

Little information is published regarding the vertebrate fauna of the 

lagoon, but it is probably similar to the rest of the coastline of the 

Gulf of Hammamet. Terns, grebes and other fish eating birds are attracted 

by the fish being raised in the lagoon. 

Marice Fauna. The marine fauna o or tier 1977) is composed of: 

Nereis sp. (~olychete) Cmstaceacs 

Ceriithium vulgatum (~astero~od) Isopods 

Clibacarias misanthropus " Amphi pods 

Lucicia lactea (pelecypod) Kaldacid Polychetes 

. ..

Since Lake Monastir is managed for fieh production, there are several 

water control structures and fksh traps. Guardians keep out other sources 

of distarbance, so the site is a safe haven for many birds. 

3.3.1.5. Monastir Salt Ponds (salines) 

West of Monastir is the lagoon that replaced Lake Monastir as a salt 

collixtion site. The site is over 1000 ha, much of which has been 

sectiored off int~ evaporation ponds. The salines are further inland than 

Lake Mocastir and the banks prevent free circulation of the water. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Halocnemum strobilaceum, Arthrocnemum indicum, Salicornia sp. and 

Halopeplis amplexicaulis dominate the vegetatkon on the shores of the 

salices. Poor water circulation and high salinity prevent vegetation 

growth ic maay of the sections. In the large, less- salty sections green 

filarneetom algae mats form. 

B. Fauca 

Mammals. Brown hares inhabit the halophile vegetation around the salt 

pocds acd it is possible that red fox and Egyptian mongoose occasionally 

occar there. The range of Shaw's jird and Gerbiillus campestris (gerbil) 

extecds to this area and the habitat between the saltponds and the 

Mocastir airport is favorable for those species. 

- 

Birds. Many species of waterfowl and waders feed in the salt ponds 

sad there are several nesting species such as shelduck and little tern. 

Most of the species found along the coast of the Gulf of Hammamet and the 

Calf of Gabes probably also stop at the Monastir salt ponds and Lake 

Mocastir. Species present in August, 1987 included: 

Little grebs 

Grey heron 

Little egret 

Flamingo ( 1 400 ) 

Spoonbi 11 

Shelduck 


Avocet ( 1000+ ) 

C. Icflaecces 

Oystercatcher 


Curlew sandpsper 


Redshank 

Greenshank 



Black- tailed godwit 




Little tern 

Collared pratincole 



Water level manipulation and equipment operation for salt production 

affect the vegetatioc and nesting birds. The adjacent airport causes some 

distxbacce to the birds. Water quality is fairly good si~ce it must be 

kept clear for acceptable salt prodaction. Fish are seiced ic the larger 

pocds, bat l-r~cticg is usaally not allowed.

3.3.1.6. Thyna Salt Ponds 

Just south of Sfax, and 270 km south of Tunis, are the Thyna salt 

ponds. The salt ponds are part of the ecological unit of the Gulf of 

Gabes coast, but are described separately here because they also qualify 

as a marine lagoon. The east side of the lagoon borders the sea and the 

two are only separated by an embankment. Before the embankment was 

constructed, the area was an kntertidal zone. The salt ponds are 

continuously being extended toward the south. In 1984 there were 860 ha 

sectioned off from the sea, although not all of it was in operation for 

salt production (van Dijk 1986). The salt ponds are shallow (most less 

than 1 m deep, all less than 3 m) with sandy and muddy bottom substrates. 

A. Vegetation 

Sparse halophile vegetation (~alocnemum, ~rthrocnemum) occurs at the 

edges of the salt ponds, but there is almost no submergect vegetation ic 

the ponds. In the less saline sections there is abucdact phytoplankton 

a~d algae. 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Red fox and sand rat have been observed (Van Dijk 1986)~ but 

they are not likely to occur in large numbers. 

- 

Birds. The close proximity to the sea makes Thyna a good high tide 

resting place for many species of waterfowl and waders and several species 

also nest there. Most of the birds listed for the Gulf of Gabes (figure 

4) cac also be observed at Thyna. 

August , 1987 : 

The following species were observed in 


Littl* egret 

Spoonbill 

Flamingo 

n Shelduck 

Oystercatcher 

Avocet 



D~nlin 

White-winged black tern 

C. Influences 

Turnstone Black-headed gull 

Redshank Mediterranean gull 

G reenshank Lesser black back 

Marsh sandpiper Herring gull 

Curlew sandpiper c Slender-billed gull 

Black-tailed godwit Gall-billed tern 

Bar- tailed godwi t n Commm tern 

Curlew Black tern 

Black-winged stilt n Little tern 

Ruff Sandwich tern 

n = Nesting Birds 

The ponds were created for commercial salt productioc, so there is 

freqae~t macipulation of water levels and equipment operatioc. Nests can 

be flooded or crashed by this activity, but the salt ccmpany's guardians 

protect adult birds from poaching and harassment. Ac adjacect ph3sphate 

plact acd an olive oil refinery discharge affluects ict3 the sea.

3.3.1.7. Bahiret el Bebane (~ibane.~agoon) 

Bahiret el Bibane is on the southeant coast of Tunisia, only 15 km 

from the Libyan border. The lagoon is approximately 35 km long and has an 

area of c.30,000 ha. Large sand bars separate the lagoon from the sea, 

but there is a sizable outlet allowtng free interchange of water. The 

lagoon is shallow with a sandy bottom over a limestone substrate. 

A. Vegetation 

Upland areas around the lagoon are vegetated by associations typical 

of the southern Subdesertic Littoral Steppe (Section 3.5.3). The edge 

vegetation is composed of halophile associations dominated by: 

Halocnemum sp. Atrfplex sp 

Zygophyllum album Juncus sp 

NAS Limoniastrum guyonianum . Lygeum spartum 

NAS = North African Sahara Endemic 

The islands at the entrance to the lagoon are rich in nesting birds 

(0lney 19651, notably several species of Laridae such as slender-billed 

g-dl, caspian tern and gull-billed tern (carp 1980). Large numbers of 

migrating birds (see figure 4) pass through or winter at the lagoon, 

incladicg the threatened white stork. 

Bahiret el Bibane is encircled by roads, some of which run along the 

water's edge. Fishing and hunting is common at the lake, but not at 

excessively high levels.

3.3.2. Sebkhets and Chotts 

Sebkhets are temporary wetlands, generally on salty soils, fed by 

slightly to moderately saline runoff water. Most sebkhets are dry by late 

summer, but some retain part of their water throughout the year. Chotts 

are vast dry depressions that were lakes in the pleistocene age (?40rgac 

1982). They are too large to be completely filled with runoff water, but 

portions contain water in most years. The fauna and flora of chotts acd 

sebkhets are similar, although the chotts have a hkgher percentage of 

bare, dry ground. 

Sebkhets and chotts occupy a significant area in Tunisia (almost 2 

million ha) and they play an important role in moderating floodwaters, 

trapping sediments and providing habitat for a variety of fauna. The 

greatest concentration of sebkhets is in the Low Steppe region of easterc 

Tunisia and near the southeast coastal region. Large chotts form a line 

across south-central Tunisia from Gabes to the Algerian border. 

Salice soils in the sebkhets and chotts restrict the vegetation 

associations to salt tolerant species. Dominant species do cot vary 

greatly among the chotts and sebkhets, although some secondary components 

vary with soil, water and climatic conditions. A vegetatior. transect from 

the center to the edge of a typical sebkhet or chott in summer would show 

the following basic characteristic zonation (ORSTOM 1962): 

Unvegetated center with very salty soils - often with salt crust 

I 

I 

Halopeplis amplexicaulis 

I 

Halocnemum strobilaceum 

I 

I 

Arthrocnemm glaucum 

I 

I 

Limoniastrum sp. 

Salsola cruciata 

I 

I 

Salsola tetrandra - Atriplex halimus 

or Suaeda fruticosa 

I 

I 

Salsola vermiculata or Traganum nudatum 

A low diversity of dominant vegetation species, most of which are 

halophiles, does not favor diverse or abundant sedentary a~imal 

populations in the chotts and sebkhets. The temporary cature of most 

eebkhets restricts their use as wetland habitat during the seasons whec 

they are dry. However, during the seasons when there is water, great 

numbers of migrating and wintering waders and waterfowl feed and rest in 

the chotts and sebkhets. Waterfowl feed on plants such as Potamogeton 

pectinatus and filamentous algae in the larger, less saline sebkhets and 

on invertebrates, typically Moina rectirostris,

While salice soils do cot favor a diversity of plant species, they 

also limit cultivatioc. Oftec sebkhets are the only untilled land in an 

area, thus increasing their value as habitat for fauna. Heavy grazing by 

livestock occurs at most chotts and sebkhets, and the disturbance and 

competition for palatable plants restricts the numbers of native animals. 

Mammals that could be expected in the vegetated edge zones include 

jackal, red fox, fennec fox, kaffir cat, common genet, egyptian mongoose, 

browc hare, and many species of rodents, notably North African endemics 

sxh as Shaw's jird and the gerbil Gerbillus campestria. 

There are more than 30 chotts and large sebkhets and numerous smaller 

sebkhets ic Tunisia. Since most of the chotts and sebkhets are similar 

from a biological diversity standpoint, the following descriptions include 

ocly the larger and more important (to biological diversity) sites. 

3.3.2.1. Sebkhet Ariana 36'54' N 10~15' E 

This 2500 he salt lake is located about 10 km northeast of Tunis, near 

Gamarth. It is separated from the sea by less thac 500 m of dunes and 

has veter for most of the year, but usually dries out for a period in the 

s.mer. The sebkhet is a large flat pan with a sandy bottom and salty 

water, surrounded by rollicg cultivated hills, eucalyptus plantations and 

developed areas. 

Sibkhet Ariaca, in association with Lake Tunis and Sebkhet Sedjoums, 

form a wetland complex that is very important for migrating and wintering 

wsterfoul (carp 1980). Typical species include: 

Shelduck Dunlin Black-headed gull 

Fla~icgo (hundreds) Sanderling Herring gull 

Craws Sanderling Kentish plover 

Avocet Redshank 

B. Inflaences 

The maic humac icfluences are tourism development between the sebkhet 

and the sea, sewage discharge, grazing and some shooting. Although the 

sewage adds nutrients to the water, if chemical wastes were discharged it 

coald heve severely detrimental effects on the flora and fauna. 

3.3.2.2. Sebkhet Sedjouml 36'48' N 10~12' E 

Or the so.~thwest edge of Tucis, this 2700 ha sebkhet is only 2 km from 

Lake !xis. Sedjoami dries up ic Augqast and September of some years; 

daricg the other mocths it has water averaging less than 1 m deep. The 

shallov water creates ideal conditiocs for placts sgch as Potamogetoc 

filiformis, filamectous algae and Ecteromorpha 

Pottier-blapetite 1979).

A. Fauna 

Ic the south and west parts of the lake there are about 40 islands 

varying ic size from several square meters to several hectares. The 

islands are used for nesting sites by thousands of avocets and hundreds of 

black-winged stilts, making the sebkhet of national importance organ 

1982). Sed joumi is of international importance for its overwintering 

waterfowl (regularly supports more than 10,000) based on the Hesligenhafen 

criteria (Annex 4). Shelduck (4,000). pintail (16,000) and shoveler 

(5,700) occur in large numbers in winter. Flamingos occasionally nest on 

the islands and up to 50,000 have been observed in the lake organ 1982). 

The importance of the site to flamingos is significantly increased when 

the sebkhets and chotts to the south dry up. Other birds recorded organ 

1982, Carp 1980, Van Di jk 1986) include: 


Cattle egret 

Lapwing 

Grey plover 

D~rlic 


Redshar-k 




Ruff 

Snkpe 

Quail 

Little owl 

Crag martin 

Skylark 

Water pipit 

Meadow pfpit 

Grey wagtail 


Blackbird 

Song thrush 

Fan- tailed warbler 

Chif fchaff 

Greenfinch 



Corn bunting 

B. Irfluences 

Humar influences in clude hunting, sewage discha rge, encroachment by 

cocstrdctior projects and a large rubbish dump, grazing, and disturbance 

caused by traffic on the adjacent roads. Encroachment is an especially 

detrimertal icfluence, since it reduces the effective habitat area of the 

sebkhet. 

3.32. Sebkhet Kourzia 

Located 10 km northwest of le Fahs and 55 km soathwest of'Tunis, 

Kourzia has an area of over 1000 ha. The surrounding terrain is low, 

cultivated hills that drain into Kourzia. Water remakns for most of the 

year, but dries in the summer, leaving a salt crust. There is an eroded 

edge bar-k about 2 m high, and the bottom is clayey sand. 

A. Fauna 

A variety of ducks and waders feed on the the invertebrate Artemka sp. 

orga gar 1982). The site is used by enough waterfowl to meet Heiligenhafen 

criteria for international importance. In some years great numbers of 

flamirgos (up to 22,000) have beec recorded. Other species include: 

Shelduck Ruff Eagle owl Crested lark 

Pirtail Woodcock Kestrel Great grey shrike 

Avocet Qaail Merlin

B. Icfluences 

Humac influences include hunting and cultivation to within 5 m of the 

waterline, which leaves only a narrow band of vegetation. The ecosystem 

would be sensitive to heavy concentratiocs of fertilizers or pesticides in 

the ranoff water from farmlands if large scale chemical use was initiated. 

3 . 2 4 Sebkhet Kelbia 35'50' N 10°17' E 

Kelbia is located at the edge of the Low Steppes, 20 km northeast of 

Kairouac and 30 km west of Sousse. It has an area of 13,000 ha and a 

maximum depth of 2.52m. Three intermittent rivers drain the adjacent 

watershed (15,000 km ) into Kelbia - the Nebhana, Merguellil and Zeroud. 

Before the rivers were dammed, they flooded after heavy rains, causing 

erosior and resulting in a delta of silt deposited at the south end of the 

lake (~or~ac 1982). During the summer the lake occasionally dries, 

leaving a light salt crust on the bottom. Water salinity varies from 1 

g/l ic the spring to saturation as the lake dries (~aouali 1976). 

A. Vegetatioc 

Alocg with the halophile vegetatioc typical of sebkhas, there are 

bands of tamarisk along the edge and emergents such as cattails Typha 

angustifolia, reed Phragmites communis and Scirpus lacustris covering 

about 10% of the edge. When there is water in Kelbsa, a dense prairie of 

Zacichella palustris covers aboat 9% of the bottom and dominates over 

Potamogetoc pecticatus and Tolypella (~aoaali 1976, Morgac 1982). A 

floating mass of Spyrogyra often forms during the spring. 

B. Fauca 

Zaoaali (1 976 ) acd Morgan (1 982) reported several specses of fauna: 

Z O O D ~ ~ ~ ~ O R : 

Arctiodiaptomus wierzejskii Dapcia rnagna 

Dapcia atkicsi Diacyclops crassicaudis 

Irvertebrates: 

Cymatia bocsdorffi 

Micronecta sp. 

Ilyocoris sp. 

Sigara sp. 

S. dorsalis 

Plea sp. 

Berosus sp. 

Palaemonetes varians (crustacean) 

Gyrinus sp. 

Palaemonetes and the insects are adapted in such a manner that after 

dry periods they can recolonize Kelbia from nearby water bodses. The 

zooplankton has resistant eggs. 

In former times, before the construction of the dams, up to 82 metric 

tons of fish have been taken from Kelbia by commercial fishermen. Fish 


Fucdalus hispacicus Cambus3a affixis 

Barbus barbas Cypricus carpio 

hgil cephal-JS Anguilla a~guilla 

Y. ramada

- Birds. Two rare species of duck have nested at Kelbia in the past, 

marbled teal and white-headed duck organ 1982). Kelbia meets 

Heiligenhafen criteria (~nnex 4) for international importance based on the 

high nmber of wintericg waterfowl (carp 1980). Some of the many bird 

species recorded for Kelbia (Olney 1965, Morgan 1982, Carp 1980)are: 

n Squacco heron Purple gallinule Crane 

Flamingo (7,000) Coot Little owl 

n Shelduck (up to 1800) Great grey shrike Hoopoe 

Wigeon (30,000) Black-winged stilt Crested lark 

Pictail (14,000) Black-eared wheatear Kentish plover 

Shoveler (10,600) Cream colored courser Desert wheatear 

Moorhen Black-bellied sandgrouse Bee-eater 

C. Icflaences 


Kelbla has beer, described as "ur,ique in the Maghreb and probably in 

the whole of North Africa" and of outstanding international importance 

(~or~ar, 1982). After Lake Ichkeul and the Gulf of Gabes, it is probably 

the third most importact wetland in Tunisia. It is one of the least 

saline large water bodies in Tunisia and supports a variety of fauna and H 

flora. Before the 3 rivers were dammed (construction began or, the Oued 

Zeroad dam in 1978) the lake almost never, or rarely dried out (Olney 

1965, Radford acd Peterker 1969). Since the damming of the rivers, 

dessicarion is much more frequent and the effects on the flora and fauna 

have beer detrimectal. 

Th? ecosystem is secsitive to long or frequent perfods of dessication 

and a program for regulated water release from the dams would be 

beneficial. Hur,tir,g and egg collection are two other influences on the 

Kelbia ?cosysten that should be controlled. 

3.3.2.5. Sebkhet Sidi el Hani 35'31' N 10~27' E 

Figure-8 shaped Sidi el Hani is oce of the largest (36,000 ha) salt 

lakes to be called a sebkhet instead of a chott and the third largest salt 

lake ic Tunisia. The lake is located 25 km southwest of Sousse and 20 km 

E-SE of Kairouan. It is often dry in summer, but occasionally retains 

water for more than a year. Salinity is very hkgh and salt crystals 

sometimes remain on the sabstrate even when there is water in the lake 

orga gar, 1 982 ) . 

A. Vegetatioc 

The high salinity restricts vegetation growth in and around the lake, 

resalticg ic larg? mudflats at the soath end. On some of the fresher 

edges, the rari plact Potectilla s~pina grows.

B. Fauna 

There are several islands that provide nestfng habitat, especially for 

flamingos. In 1972, c. 10,000 flamingos were recorded breeding at Sidi el 

Haci (carp 1980). Lesser numbers breed there fairly regularly, making the 

site of international importance. The frequency of nestkng may have 

decreased in recent years. 

Excessive salt also restricts the invertebrate fauna and therefore 

bird use is lower than that of other aebkhets, such as Kelbia. A variety 

of waders pass through on migration and permanent residents of the 

adjacent area include palm dove, great grey shrike, fulvous babbler, 

lesser short-toed lark and crested lark. 

C. Icflaences 

Human influences include cultivation close to the edge of the lake and 

some egg collecting by local villagers (carp 1980). The ecosystem would 

be secsitive to alterations in the watershed feeding the lake. 

3.3.2.6. Sebkhet El Djem 

Twelve kilometers south of the city of El Djem, 50 km north of Sfax, 

and 20 km west of the sea, is the 3,000 ha Sebkhet El Djem. Water depths 

reach 3 - 4 m when the lake is full, but it is frequently dry in summer. 

The s-~rroundicg region is rolling hills, cultivated to cereals and olives. 

A. Vegetation 

The south shore is fairly steep and there is only a narrow band of 

halophile vegetation. On the north side the halophiles extend for 100 - 

300 m over the gently sloping terraic. 

There are several small islands and 2 larger islands that provide 

nesting cover for black-winged stilts, flamingos and avocets. which 

cested there ic the early 1970~~ but may no longer breed there regularly 

(M. Smart, pers. comm.). Other birds reported for Sebkhet El Djem (carp 

1980, Morgan 1982, Van Di jk 1986) include: 

Pochard (over 10,000) Little stint Great grey shrike 

Coot (33,000) Kentish plover Blackbird 

tn White-headed duck (349) Hoopoe Song thrush 

c Collared pratincole Swallow Fulvous babbler 

Cream colored courser Crane Short-toed lark 

c Slecder-billed gull Rock dove Chaffinch 

c Cull-billed tern Palm dove Starlicg 


n = Nesticg Bsrds 

t = Threatened Species

The high numbers .of pochard and coot make the site internationally 

important and it is a quality example of a representative sebkhet (Morgan 

1982). 

C. Influences 

.Human influences on the ecosystem include cultivation of the adjacent 

area and encroachment into the edge vegetation. Egg collection has 

occured in past years (carp 1980). 

3.3.2.7. Sebkhets Sidi Mansour and En Noual 34O15'-25* N g039*-58' E 

En Noual is 20 km west of the coast, 60 km northwest of Gabes and 

11,000 ha in size. Ssdi Mansour is 50 km west of the coast, 70 km 

northwest of Gabes and 3,000 ha in size. Both are shallow (maximum depth 

1.5 m) with low salinity levels. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Large decsely vegetated areas surround the sebkhets, which frequently 

dry our in summer. Interspersed in the typical sebkhet type halophile 

vegetation are Tamarix sp.and species common to the surrounding steppes, 

such as Rhantherium suaveolens and Artemisia campestris 

B. Fauna 

The dense vegetation provsdes excellent cover for gerbils, Shaw's 

jird, brown hare, red fox, and dorcas gazelles. Great numbers of waders 

visit the sebkhets. An exceptional 75,000 flamsngos were recorded in 1971 

(carp 1980) and they occasionally attempt to nest at Sidl Macsour (0lney 

1965). Other birds include : 

Black-necked grebe Crane Scrub warbler 

Teal Little stint Desert wheatear 

Shoveler Avocet Mourning wheatear 

Pochard Pratincole Red-rumped wheatear 

t White-headed duck Long-legged buzzard White wagtail 

Mallard Swallow Hoopoe lark 

t Marbled teal Crested lark 

C. Influences 


Human influences are widespread at these sebkhets. The dry eastern 

ends are sometimes cultivated to cereals, vegetatioc is cut and gathered 

for fuel and fodder, grazing is excessive, and egg collection has ruined 

at least oce nesting attempt by flamingos (carp 1980). Huntirg and 

poachlcg (birds acd mammals) are also very common.

3.3.2.8. Mnor Sebkhets of the Low Steppea 

h e to the flat topography and the runoff from the adjacent mountains, 

the Low Steppes are spotted with aebkhets. In addition to those already 

described (~elbia, Sidi el Hani, El Djem, Sidi Mansour, En ~oual) there 

are several other less important eebkhets worth mentioning. Sebkhet 

Mokrine is about 35 km southeast of Sousse and ia less than 5 km from the 

coast. Usually dry in the summer and not very full in the winter, Moknkne 

offers a safe haven for birds migrating down the coast. Sebkhet Menzel 

Dar Elel Ouar is 20 km S-SW of Enfida. It is a relattvely salty lake, dry 

in s*mmer, but used by migrating birds in winter. 

Sebkhets Ech Cherita, El Gherra, Mecheguig El Bahira and Menzel Chaker 

are all similar temporary salt lakes southwest of Sousse, northwest of 

Sfax acd east of Sbeitla. These and many other small sebkhets enhance the 

biological diversity of the region by increasing the interspersion of 

habitat types and providing cover in heavily cultivated areas. 

Soath of Chebba and a few hundred meters in from the coast is Sebkhet 

Baradaa. The main standing water body is about 40 ha and the surrounding 

halophilc vegetated floodplain is c.500 ha. Close proximity to the sea 

makes the wetla~d attractive to waterfowl and waders migrating along the 

coast. Some birds, such as black terns, also nest there. 

Aboat 20 km north of Kairouan and just south of the town of Metbasta 

is a vast vegetated floodplain. Relatively low salinity makes this 

wetlacd nore of a temporary freshwater lake than a sebkhet and therefore 

the local populatioc calls it Lake Metbasta. Although it only holds water 

for a short period during and after the winter rains, the vast extension 

of the floodplain makes it a valuable site for migrating waterfowl and 

waders, resting sedentary birds (including the threatened houbara bustard) 

acd mannals. 

3.32. Jeffara Complex 

At the Libyac border is a complex of salt lakes and saline river beds 

coveri~g over 160.000 ha on the Tunisian side. The complex includes 

Sebkhet el Melah and Bou Djemel - large coastal salt lakes by Bahiret el 

Bibane; Sebkhet Tader, which extends inland 70 km along the border; 

Sebkhet Oum el Krialate; Garaet Djedid; Sebkhet Areg el Makriene; and 

Garaet ez Zets. Although the complex is dry for most of the year it 

provides important diversity in the habitats of animals such as dorcas 

gazelles, brom hares and houbara bustards. It is also a potentially 

valuable rest stop for migrating birds. Relatively little research has 

beer do~e on the complex and further study is needed. 

3.3.2.10. Sebkhet El Guettar 

Sebkhet El Gzettar, also called Chott El Guettar, is 15 km southeast 

of Gafsa and 120 km northwest of Gabes. Since the lake is in ac arid 

rcgioc, it dries early ic the summer and sometimes remains dry throughout 

the year. The salt lake covers 7,400 ha, with an additional 5,000 ha Of 

halophile vegetatioc. There are 2 other smaller sebkhets 10 a ~ d 25 km 

rorthwest of Gabes covericg about 4,000 ha each.

A. Fauna 

Whet there is water, the eebkhet receives heavy seasonal use by 

migrating waterfowl, waders and other birds. Slender-billed gulls and 

black-winged stilts have been recorded breeding organ 1982) and the 

threatened houbara bustard is occasionally observed in the halophile 

vegetation. There is also a resident population of reptkles, rodents 

(gerbils, jirds), brown hare, red fox and jackal. 

B. Influences 

Grazing and vegetation gathering occur throughout the area, but the 

edge zone is so large 'that adequate cover usually remains for fauna. 

Hunting and poaching are probably the most detrimental human influences. 

3.3.2.11. Sebkhet El Hamma 33'58' N 9'57' E 

The system of chotts that form a belt through the center of Tucisia 

begins tear the Mediterranean coast with Sebkhet El Hamma, 25 km W-NW of 

Gabes. Separated from Chott Fejij to the west by a slight ridge, Sebkhet 

El Harnma is c.5.000 h~ in area. It is often dry for many years, except at 

the site of a hot (70 C) spring at the southern end o organ 1982). 

A. Fauca 

The hot spring is the only known habitat of a small blind crustacean 

Thermosbaena mirabilis (carp 1980). When there is water in the rest of the 

sebkhet, thousands of flamingos and pochards and hundreds of wigeons, 

shovelers and other waterfowl and waders use the lake. 

B. Inflaences 

Grazing, vegetation gathering, poaching and cultivation of the 

adjacent area are having an unquantified impact on the sebkhet. 

3.3.2.12. Chott Fejij 33'55' N g010' E 

Extending west from Sebkhet El Hamma is the 570,000 ha Chott Fejij. 

Often dry for over a year, when there is water it is brackish to fresh 

(carp 1980). Water remains longest in four depressions along the chott 

and usually covers less than 10% of the total area organ 1982). 

A. Vegetation 

Alocg with the typical halophile vegetation, the margtns support 

Tamarix sp. and sedges Carex ap. 

B. Fauca 

Invertebrates icclude low densities of Artemia sp. (typical of 

chotts), Da hria carinata, Dytiscidae and Corixidae. Flamicgos nest 

occasior.a*OOO pairs in 1974) and large numbers of ducks (pochard, 

shoveler, shelduck) sporadically winter at the chott.

C. Influences 

Influences include grazing, cultivation and development. 

3.3.2.13. Chott Jerid 

West of, and connected to, Chott Fejij is the largest chott of the 

Uaghreb, Chott Jerid, which covers c.700,000 ha. The huge area ks never 

completely inundated, even in wet years only 5% of the chott is covered by 

water. Standing water occurs sporadically in the chott, depending on 

where the rains fall, and movement due to the winds is common. The most 

frequently inundated site is located just to the west of center organ 

1982). Water in the chott is brackish to salty and leaves salt deposits 

after evaporation. 

Sparse icvertebrates include Artemsa sp., a Dytiscidae and a Corixidae 

orga gar. 1982). Nesting flamingoi- pairs) were recorded in 1959 

(carp 1980) and some waders may rest at Djerid during migration (Olney 

19651, but it is cot a site of prime importance for birds. Threatened 

houbara bustards cest ix the area. 

B. Icfluecces 

Grazing, vegetatson collectioc, cultivation acd manipulation of 

ucdergroand water reserves for irrigatioc all affect the chott. 

3.3.2.14. Chott El Gharsa 

Tee kilometers to the northwest of Chott Jerid and disticctly 

separated from it, Chott El Gharsa is cocnected to the belt of chotts 

extecdicg westward icto Algeria. Covering c.60,000 ha, the chott has a 

cecter altitude of 7 m below sea level. El Gharsa is similar to the other 

chotts ic terms of water regime, flora, fauna and icfluences. 

3.3.2.15. Artiffcsal Lakes Near Kebsli 33O37' N 8O53' E 

Near the southeast edge of Chott Jerid, 15 km southwest of Kebili, is 

a series of small brackish lakes averaging a few hundred hectares in size. 

Lakes Nouiel, Graad, Taffaya, Menchia and Fatnassa are fed by excess 

irrigatioc water from the adjacect oases and therefore are less salsne 

thac nost sebkhets and are almost never completely dry. 

The lakes are attractive to migraticg waterfowl acd waders, especially 

since they are some of the last wetlacds before the birds cross the 

Sahara, acd the first oces they reach whec they returc. Mary birds also

winter there. Waterfowl observed in January 1986 (Smeti, pere. comm.) 

include: 

Flamingo Teal Shoveler 

Moorhen Pintail Wigeon 

B. Influences 

Gadwall 

Mallard 

Waterfowl are hunted at the lakes each year, but not at excessive 

levels (about 10 hunters annually). The edge vegetation is heavily grazed 

by livestock. 

3.3.3. Rivers and Reservoirs 

Permanect rivers ocly exist in the north, but there are intermittent 

rivers acd streams scattered throughout Tunisia. All major rivers and 

macy of the smaller, ictermittent rivers have at least one dam, 

corstructed to conserve water for irrigation or domestic use and to reduce 

flood damage. A cata~trophic~flood in 1969 eroded 260 million tons of soil 

from a watershed of 8,577 km where normally 5 million tons are lost 

annaally pi rant 1980). The flood also changed the watercourses of several 

streams and destroyed many bridges, roads and buildings. That destructive 

flood sp~rred the Tunisian government into increasing its dam constructkon 

program. 

Due to the dams and the long dry season, a large proportion of the 

surface water evaporates before it is used for irrigation or reaches the 

sea. The high ancual evaporation rate - 1400 mrn in the north to 3000 mm 

in the south r rant 1980) - results in the dessication of many rivers and 

some of the smaller reservoirs. 

Typical vegetation along rivers and reservoirs of the north includes 

planted acacia and eucalyptus and: 

Tamarix sp 

Carex sp 

Juncus Phragmk tes communis 

Nephron oleander Rubus ulrnkfolius 

In southern watersheds the saline soil results in moderately halophile 

vegetation. Submergent vegetation is uncommon due to the turbidity and 

seasocality of waterflow kn the rivers and the depth of the reservoirs. 

Tucisian rivers are poor tn fish species dkverskty (~raiem 1983). 

There are only 12 species, of which 8 are native and 4 are introduced. 

Fish of the northerc and central rivers and reservofrs are in the genera: 

Aphianus, Gambusia, Barbus and Pseudophoximus. 

Rivers provide important habitat for local populations of birds and 

mammals. Although the depth and resulting lack of supmergent vegetatTon 

makes most reservoirs poor habitat, several species of waterfowl and 

waders ase the large freshwater bodies as migratioc rest stops. The 

threateced white-headed duck uses the Besbesia dam reservoir between Tunis 

acd Bizerte, and great crested grebes and some ducks breed at the Gdir el 

Ghoal ponds jast outside of Tunis.

The biological diversity of Tunisia's rivers has received scant 

attectioc in the past and additional studies are needed. The two major 

permaner.t rivers are the Medjerda acd the Miliane, described bel~w. 

3.3.3.1. Oued Medjerda 

Oued Medjerda is the largest river in Tunisia. It originates in 

Algeria, ecters Tunisia near Ghardimaou and flows into the Medfterranean 

sea south of2Porto Farina. The r2ver is 460 km long and has a watershed 

of 23,000 km , of which 15,000 km i) i n Tunisia (Andren aed Salem 1978). 

The meac rate of flow is 30 - 1500 m /second, which fluctuates greatly 

since 30 - 85% of its discharge is in floodwaters rant .1980). 

Oued Medjerda has been altered substantially by water control projects 

and 80% of its water is now retained. The watercourse has been 

chaccelized ic several locations, a large cemect lined canal has beec 

created to bricg water to Cap Boc, and several dams have beec constructed 

alo~g the river acd its trkbutaries. 

The largest reservoir ic North Africa has beer created by the Sidi 

Salem daz near Beja. At maximum water levels c.4,600 ha are icundated by 

the reservoir. Soils ic the area are very erodible; massive landslides 

have d..nped large quactities of earth into the reservoir and upstream 

erosioc has resulted in a fast sedimectation rate. The dam is relatively 

new, so the sarroucding vegetatioc has not succeeded to ripariac 

associatiocs. Grazicg and cultivation to the edge of the reservoir in 

sons locatiocs is also slovicg the saccessioc process and iccreasing 

erosioc. Although the reservoir is filling ic fast, it is too deep to 

provide optinur. wildlife habitat. Birds of icterest noted ic September of 

1987 i~cl*~de great crested grebe, kectish plover and marsh harrier. 

There are also mary dams or the 12 tributaries to Oued Medjerda. 

Korth of Le Kef is the Oued Mellegue dam, cocstructed ic 1946-54. The 

maximum area of the reservoir is 1000 ha, which is importact ir a regioc 

with few catural wetlands. The reservoir has many coves acd a very 

irregular coastline. Drastic water fl.~ct.~atioes have rcs.~lted ic little 

submergcct or edge vegetatioc. Migrating teal, wigeoc, mallards and 

waders use the reservoir as a rest stop. A variety of game birds, 

passerices and ma~mals occur on the adjacect land. 

3.3.3.2. Oued Milkane 

Oued Miliace discharges into T e Gulf of Tucis just south of the city 

9 

of T~cis. A watershed of 2,000 km drains into the river, which carries 

ac ancual volme of 6 million m3 of usable water (Acdrec and Salem 1978). 

Two dans, El Kebir and Bir M'Chergua have beer cocstructed on the Hiliane. 

3.3.4. Cther Freshwater Wctlacds 

m ~ r ~ freshwater l y wetlacds are scarce ic Tunisia. Kost of the wetlands 

are sonewhat salice due t3 salt ic the watershed soil or icfl.~xes of 

seawater i c t ~ the wetlacd. The freshest wetlacds existicg ic Txisia are 

those fed directly by ralcwater or groacdwater. The followirg five

wetlands have been selected as representative of the various small 

wetlands that exist in Tunisia or because they exhibit special 

characteristics of interest in regard to biological diversity. 

3.3.4.1. Djebel Chktane Lake 37°11' N gO1O' E 

Inland of Cap Serrat, 45 km northeast of Tabarka or the north coast, 

is the mountain lake of Djebel Chitane. The lake is not very large and 

the water is fresh. 

A. Vegetatkon 

Lake Chitane is surrounded by cork oak Quercus suber forest. The 

fresh water creates conditions favorable for the growth of aquatic and 

edge vegetation species that are found in only a few other locations ic 

Tucisia. Species include adfo ford and Peterkec 1969, Pottier-Alapetite 

1979) : 

B. Influences 

r Nymphaea alba Isoetcs velata 

r Sparganium erectum r Echicodor~s racucculoides 

Ranunculus ophioglossifolius Aspleriam adiartam nigrum 

R. aqnatilis ssp baadotii 

r = Rare 

There have been no recent reports or factors icflaeccicg the lake, but 

it woald be very sensitive to activities increasicg sedimectatior, 

salinity, or pollutioc. 

3.3.4.2. Lake El Fie1 

Between Djebel Kechem el Kelb and Djebel Touila, 22 km s~athwest of 

Kasserine, is a small depression (100 ha) at an altitnde of 650 m. The 

wetland is fed by runoff water and it dries out each smmer for about 2 

months. Salinity is about 2 g/l (~or~ac 1982). Clay substrates help 

retain water and the basin can fill rapidly after heavy rains. 

A. 

has 

and 

B. 

Vegetation 

The land around the lake is Artemisia herba alba steppe, much of which 

been cultivated to wheat. Scirpus maritimus covers 10% of the wetland 

whec there is water an algae mat forms on the surface. 

Fauca 

Icvertcbrates reported by Morgac (1982) are Sigaria coccicca (a 

brackish water form), thaumalid larvae acd a calacoid. C33t, little 

atict, curlew sandpiper and other waders and birds feed acd rest at the 

wetland duricg migratioc.

C. Icfluences 

Scirpus would probably cover more of the wetland if it was not grazed 

icte~sively by livestock. 

3.3.4.3. Lake Zerkine 33'15' N 10~17' E 

Twenty-five kilometers southeast of Cabes is a small (c.50 ha) wetland 

fed by groundwater and runoff. The ehallow lake has a maximum depth of 1 

meter acd the salinity kn May of 1976 was 3.2 g/l (Morgan 1982). Lake 

Zerkice is therefore not oce of the freshest water bodies of Tunisia, but 

it is one of the freshest in the region. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Scir~~s maritimus forms a marsh on 40% of the bottom and Characeae is 

dispersed over 80% of the pond organ 1982). This is probably the only 

soatherr locatioc of Butomis umbellatus, which is rare throughout Tunisia. 

Dasn9c;m alisna 1s acother aquatic plant found in the marsh. 

Pocd fauca iccludes: 

Berthlc : Notocecta sp. Lebellulidae Baetidae 

Corixa paczeri Chironomidae Coenagrionidae 

Sigara corcicca 

Icsec t : Daphcia sp. Daphcia atkinsoci 

hphiti~r: Fiaca sp. Eufo viridis 

Birds. Duricg migratioc, many of the waterfowl and waders lksted for 

the Gdf of Gabes (~ectioc 3.1.4) could be expected to feed in the pond. 

Norgar (1982) recorded summertime use by grey heron, little egret, squacco 

heroc, eight heroc, glossy ibis, coots, black terc acd garganey. 

The fresh water and vegetatioc of the marsh attract herders with thekr 

livestock to the site. Crazing is a primary source of disruption to the 

ecosystem. Although it may not be possible to completely eliminate 

grazicg, the implemectation of some sort of sensible use strategy could 

greatly echacce the habitat value of Lake Zerkkne. 

3.3.4.4. Oued Essed Pools 35'55' N 10~28' E 

Yhec Sebkhet Eelbih (~ecti9~ 3.3.2.4) overflows, it drains into the 

sea V ~ 9~ed E fssed. Sicce Kelbia ocly occasionally overflows (~aouali 

19~6). as~el::; most of Oued Esscd is dry except for some pools near Sidi 

BSJ A l l , bctwcec the rallroad tracks acd GP1. The pools are fed by 

spricgs ac? ocl:; extecd a few hmdred meters alocg the riverbed.

A. Vegetation 

Alocg the pools, the fresh, flowing water supports a lush growth of 

cattails Typha angustifolia, Phragmites communis, Juncus sp., Tamarix ap. 

and a few halophile species. 

B. Fauna 

Abundant invertebrates occupy the water area that does not dry up 

during the sammer; therefore an unusual variety of birds are attracted. 

In August of 1987, the following birds were recorded: 

Little egret tn Marbled teal Wood sandpiper 

E Night heron n Black-winged stilt Marsh sandpiper 

Koorhen Little ringed plover Greenshank 

Coot Kentish plover Hoopoe 

Water rail Little stint Fan-tailed warbler 

Shelduck Ternminck' s stint Olivaceous warbler 

Mallard Cream colored courser 

C. Icf luecces 



The riverflow has been altered by bridges, road construction and 

upstream gravel excavation, but the pools appear to be relatively 

ur-distsrbcd. This is a valuable wetland site that would be very sensitive 

to vegetatioc removal or disruption of the water flow. 

3.3.4.5. Dar Fatma Bog 36'48' N 8'45' E 

The only known peat bog in the country is 25 km south of Tabarka in 

the Kroumirie mosntains of northwest Tunisia. Mountaic streams flow into 

a basic (770 rn altitude) creating a small wetland about 3 ha in size, and 

s-~bterraneac groundwater seepage has created a true Sphagnum bog fn a 

small part of the bash. 

A. Vegetation 

Radford and Peterken (1969) reported that 150 - 200 plant species grow 

fn the basin, many of which do not occur elsewhere in Tunfsia. The bog, 

which is only a few square meters in size, is dominated by several speckes 

of Sphagcum moss, primarilly - S. subsecundum. Other species in and at the 

edge of the bog include: 

Eleocharss multicaulis Montia fontana 

Hypericum af rum Angallis crassspes 

Holcus lacatus Potentilla repens 

Bellis repens 

Jucc~s sp. 

Hylocomium sp.

Surrounding the bog are soligenous mire communities of 

Erica scoparia Phragmites conmuxis 

Asphodelis microcarpus Isoetes hystrix 

The forest ecosystem around the basin is dominated by 

B. Influences 

Quercus canariensis Erica arborea 

Q. suber Calycotome villosa 

Crataegus monogyna 

The bog was fenced at one time to protect it from grazing and 

trampling, but it is doubtful that the fe~ce has been maintained. The 

small ecosystem would be very sensitive to tramp1ir.g or ary other form of 

vegetation disruption or removal. Since the bog is ocly a few square 

meters in size, rare species of plants could be eliminated by a single 

days grazing. The site is know. to be importact for its miqxe 

vegetation, but little study has been made of the faxna.

There are five maic mocctaic systems ir. Twisia (fi&~~re F): the 

Krocnirie/t:ogod chair. ic the corth; the Tiicisiar Dorsal racge from the 

west-cecter to Cap Boc; the High Tell - spread betueec the 

Krocmirie/l.logods acd the Tcr.isiac Dorsal; the nosctaics of the High Steppe 

ic cectral Tccisia; and the Douirat mocctaics of the so~th. Eost of the 

forests of Turisia are located in the mouctaics acd the steep rcgged 

slopss provide sacctuary for macy species of acimals. 

The climate i.c the mocctaics differs from the scrroccdir.g regiocs. 

Precipitatioc rates iccreese 20 mm for every 700 mm ircrease jc altjtude. 

The smmits receive precipitatioc ic the form of raic, hail ard evec sco-~~. 

Ar, importact soorce of additional moistcre is clouds ar.d fog, which occi;r 

ever :c the dry smmer seasocs. Temperat1:res are also csoler ic the 

nocctaics; especially the h5gh noxtaics nf the corthwest. 

Except for the Krocnirie/Wogods ic the Wsmid czrth, most cf the 

moxtsir f3rests arp degraded acd severe erosioc is coxoc. Fielw~od 

cctticg has caised mcch of the degradatjor acd overgrazj~e accelerates 

erosioc. C-ltivatior- or the slopes also iccreases erosioc - especially 

uher the cozrtD~rs are cst followed - ard decreases habitat q~ality. 

n 

l h ~ the , factors to which m3.x-taic ecosystems are mast sersStive 

ircl~d e : 

Zrosioc cal~sicg activities: 

- Overgrazice 

- Vegetatioc cctting for fuelwood acd fodder 

- C~ltivatioc 

- Soil loss 

Alteratior of fragile alpine meadows 

The Krocmirie momtaic racge ecters Tccisja at the corthwest corcer 

acd extecds cortheast, to the north of Jecdouba acd Reja acd parallel to 

the coast. A t !Jefza the mouctains taper off acd thee rise op again as the 

Nogods, which extecd to Bizerte. The average altitsde var5es from 400 to 

800 n (OKUPAA :985) and reaches 1203 rn at Djebel Rhorra or. the klgeriac 

border. 

The corthwest is the coolest acd wettest part nf Tixjsia. ?enperatlire 

acd procipi tatior. ir. the regioc var:r great1.r with alt~t ;de ar? ?Xpgsi:e. 

The !*;editerrar.ear Sea m~d~rates the cljm~te o~ the corth slzpes arc! the 

c3rtirer.tal jrfl~ecce 9s very evider.t or t h ~ soctherr edpr of the chalr. 

Eioclinates characteristic of the Krocnjrie/l:o~ods &re varlacts of the 

!-led5 terracear Haid arc] Scbhsnid types.

nediterranean 

Figure 8 

Mountain Ranges of Tunisia 

Kroumirie 

Hogods 

High Tell 

Tunisian Dorsal 

Mountains of the 

High Steppe 

Douirat

The ~roumirie/~ogods are composed of limestone, sandstone and clay 

from in the oligocene era. Dominant soils are moderately acidic and often 

leached. Forest soils are heavy, hydromorphic and fairly rich tn well 

decomposed humus (ONUPAA 1985). Poorer soils in unforested areas are 

finer and lighter sandy-limes. Secondary aoils include heavy vertiaols 

and hydromorphs at bases of slopes and brown calcareoiis soils. 

Vegetation. A vast forest of Zen oak Quercus canariensis and cork oak 

Quercus suber once covered the Kroumirke/Mogods. Smaller forests of& 

afares kermes oak & coccifera and Pinus pinaster alao grew. Clearing 

-9 

and cultivation in the lower valleys has reduced the extensiveness of the 

forests, but the Kroumirie/Mogods are etill the most forested regions of 

Tunisia. Cork oak forest predominates, stretching from the Algerian 

border, throughout the Kroumirie and fnto the Mogods. 

The variations in altitude, soil and climate encompassed by the range 

of the cork oak forests results in a diversity of associated vegetation 

types. Cuenot and Schoenenberger (1965) described the primary 

associations acd variants of the vegetation 

primary associatior or the higher mountains 

understory of various proportiors of: 

Erica arborea 

Cytisus triflorus 

Calycotome villosa 

Cist~s salviifolias 

ir cortherc Turisia. The 

consists of cork oak with an 

Viburnum ticus 

Rubus ulmifolius 

Myrtus commuris 

On lower moantains and slopes the understory coctaics many of the 

above species, but the more humid shrub types are replaced. There is also 

a greatly differing herb layer. Commoc associatiocs are indicated by: 

Erica arborea Pistacia lertiscus 

Calycotome villosa Myrtus commu~is 

Cistus salviifolius Phillyrea argustifolis media 

C. monspeliensis 

and a common variant that occurs on drier slopes is kndicated by the 

presecce of Lavandula stoechas and: 

Erica scoparia Genfsta aspalathoides 

Halimium halimifolium TA G. ulckna 

In the Mogods, cork oak forests are often mixed wtth kermes oak, which 

becomes the dominant species in many locations. A common association 

includes the oaks and: 


Erica arborea 

Myrtus comrnunis 

Viburrum tinus 

Rubus ulmifolius

A Lavandula stoechas variant similar to the one described above may . 

occur on drier slopes. Where cork oak does not occur, kermes oak is often 

in association vi'th: 

Arbutus unedo Cistus monspeliensis 

Erica multiflora Pistacia lentiscus 

Near the coast the main association is indicated by kermes oak, Teucrium 

fruticans and dvarf palm Chamaerops humilis. On the high slopes and north 

facing ravines of the western part of the Kroumirie, abundant rain and 

cool temperatures create favorable conditions for a zen oak climax forest. 

Zen oak grovs in dense stands, often vkth a closed canopy that restricts 

the growth of understory trees. More open stands contain shrubs, such as: 

Cytisus triflorus Myrtus communis 

Erica arborea Rubus ulmifolius 

Crataegus oxycantha monogyna 

but the most abundant plants are herbs, incladicg: 

Agrimonia eupa to ria Achillea ligustica 

Brachypodium sylvaticum Rumex tuberosus 

vNA Cyclamec africanum Prunella vulgaris 

In regard to vcgetatioc diversity, zen oak forests icclude some 

icteresting species groups at the l i m i t of their range. The highest peaks 

of Tunisia are the lower altitudinal limits of some high altitude species, 

such as: 

rNA Lapsana communis macrocarpa I lex aquif olium 

. Urtica dioica Circaea lutetiace 

Carex silvatica rNA Geum urbacum 

v Ajuga reptans Platacthera bifolia 

Hieracium pseudo-pilosella 

In terms of longitudinal range, the zen oak forests of Tmisia are the 

eastern l i m i t of the following species characteristic of the Kabylie 

mountains: 

Quercus afares Festuca dryme ja 

Carex olbiensis Scutellarka columr.ae 

Potentilla micrantha rNA Doronicum atlacticum 

Diacthus balbisii Geranium atlanticum 

Saxifraga veronicifolia 

There are also over 200 species of mushrooms and numerous ferns, such as: 

r Blechnum spicant Ophioglossum lusitanicum 

Athy rium f ilix-femina r Phyllitis scolopecdrim 

r Dryopteris aculeata r Ptcris locgifolia 

r D. filix-mas 

............................................................ 

v = Very Rare NA = North Africa E~dernic 

r = Rare

Much of the Krournirie/~ogods has been degraded from the climax 

vegetation type. Where the cork oak forest has been cleared, a maquis of 

heather (~ricaceae) forms (ONUPAA 1985). The charactertstic species of the 

heather maquis include (~uenot 1965): 

Erica arborea Briza maxima 

Cistus monspeliensis Koeleria pubescens 

Calycotome villosa Trifolium campestre 

Pistacia lentiscus Festuca coerulescens 

Arbutus unedo Cynosurus echinatus 

Plantago serraria Bellis silvestris 

Hypochaeris radicata Ampelodesma maurktantca 

or, there may be a variant typified by: 

Erica scoparka Tuberaria vulgaris 

Lavandula stoechas Pteridium aquilicum 

Halimiam halimifolium Hedysarum coronarius 

On the lower slopes of the Kroumirie, especially at the edges of the 

racgeS, the maquis are more likely to include: 

Olea europaea oleaster Chrysanthemum paludosum 

Pistacia lentiscus Mentha pulegium 

Myrtas cornrumis Romulea linaresii 

Genista ferox Centaurium spicatum 

Juccus baf ocias Gaudica fragilis 

Cichoriam intybus pumilum 

or Lavacdula variacts. On drained soils, the following species are found: 

Calycotome villosa Avena alba var. barbata 

Genista tricuspidata Hyparrhenia hirta 

Trif olium angustifolium 

Ic the Mogods, the maquis are still dominated by and Pistacia 

(0lea-lentiscus maquis), but the other associated species are often quite 

differect from those of the Kroumirie. Common associations include: 

Jasminum fruticans Stellaria media 

Rubus ulmifolius Arum media 

Asparagus albus Arisarum vulgare 

Galactites tomentosa Ambrosia babsii 

Cynosurus echknatus Allium chanaemoly 

Urtica pilulifera Silybum marianum 

Cerastium glomeratum Cirsium scabrum 

Influences. The species composition and vegetation cover of the 

Kro;unirie/~ogods have been changed from the original vast oak forests by 

timber harvesticg; clearicg for cultivatioc, pasture acd homes; gathericg 

of firewood, forage, medicical acd edible plact prodacts; acd macipulation

of water resources (dams, stream diversioc). By 1943, French colonialists 

had harvested so much oak from the Kroumirie that no large stands of trees 

greater thac 1 meter in diameter were left (~ir. For. 1965). Host of the 

wood was used for the railroads. Ic 1943 almost all of the trees were 10 

to 50 years old, with only a few old groves left at the former Ain Draham 

National Park and scattered sparse inaccessible clumps in other areas. 

In terms of biological diversity the highest, steepest, most 

inaccessible areas are those most likely to succeed toward the natural 

climax vegetation. Official protection of some other areas has resulted 

in diverse nataral vegetatioc and favorable wildlife habitat. Even 

locations that are heavily influenced by people are important to the 

biological diversity if the the continuity of the oak forest is 

maintained. Starting from the west, sites of special interest in the 

Kroumirie/Mogods are described belaw. 

3.4.1.1. El Feidja 

Aboat 60 km southwest of Tabarka the Tucisia/Algeria border carves 

westward to eccompass the El Feidja - Djebel Rhorra massif. The summit of 

Djebel Rhorra (1203 rn) is or the border, which puts the soathwest slope in 

Tunisia. El Feidja is a large massif (over 20,000 ha) with macy peaks and 

valleys racging ic altitude from 350 m to 1110 rn at Djebel Statir. 

Oc the high peaks is where the highest precipitation rates in North 

Africa occar (1500+ m/Year). Scow falls oc the high peaks several times 

each wicter ard reaches the lawer slopes an average of 4 to 7 times per 

year. Drizzle, mist and hail also add to the water regime, keeping the 

area humid, acd many streams flw throughout the year. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Over 17,000 ha (85%) of El Feidja is forested. The higher slopes of 

the massif are the most favorable locations ic Tucksia for zen oak. At 

the summit of Djebel Rhorra there is a 160 ha alpine meadow (~ir. For. 

1965) - the largest of the few that exist in Turisia. A grove of the rare 

Tucisia/Algeria endemic Quercus afares has also beec reported to exist at 

El Feid ja (~ir. For. 19fmnother ~unisia/~lgeria endemic plant 

reported for El Feidja is Gecista ulcina (pottier-~la~etite 1979). 

Species adapted to the warmer temperatures and moderate rain of the cork 

oak stands and clearings include those typical of heather or Olea- 

lectiscus maquis and: 

Prunella vulgaris Ficaria verna 

Cynosarus polybracteatus Allium triquetrum 

Gecista ferox Asphodelis microcarpus 

NA Medicago sativa eu-sativa Smilax aspera 

Ampelodesma rnaaritacica Daphce gridian 

Certaurea africacus tagoca Heliarthemum sp. 

RA = Ngrth kfricac E~dernic

Undergrowth in the zen oak stands contafns (~ir. For. 1965, Peterken 

and Radford 1969): 

Shrubs: 

Herbs: 

v 

r 

r 

Grasses: r 

Ilex aquif olium 

Cerasus avium 

Teucrium scorodonia 

A juga reptans 

Potentilla micrantha 

Stellaria holostea 

Luzula Forsteri 

L. campestris 

Vicia sativa 

V. dispema 

Cyclamec africanum 

Sacicula europaea 

Melica uniflora 

M. minuta 

Cytisus triflorus 

Agrimonia eupatoria 

Smyrnium rotundifolium 

Asperula laevigata 

Galium laevigata 

rNA Doronicum atlanticum 

Geranium atlanticum 

Asphodelis cerasiferus 

r Lamium bifidum 

Carex europea 

Achillea ligufstica 

Lathyrus sphearicus 

L. inconspicuus 

Anthoxacthum odoratum 

The biological diversity of the El Feidja forests is indicated by some 

the con-domicant species. There are Mid-European type species as well 

those characteristic of the Mediterranean forest. 

Kid-Europeac Species: 

Sisymbriam alliaria Epilobium moctanum 

Agrimocia eupatoria r ~elica uniflora 

Circaea lutetiana Planthanthera bifolia 

Sacicula europea 

Mediterranean Forest Species: 

Cardamine hirsuta Scutellaria columnae 

Hypericurn afrum Phlomis herba venti 

H. australe Specularia falcata 

Lathyrus latifolius Arisarum vulgare 

ere are also maay temperate European non-forest species, such a 

Lilium candidum 

Fumaria officinalis 

rNA Geurn urbanum 

Acthriscus sylvestris 

Asperula arvensis 

Fedia cornucopiae 

Draba verna 

Vicia sativa 

........................................................... 

r = Rare NA = North Africa Ecdernic

Other non-forest associations include those of sandstone outcrops, 

permanent streams and alpine meadows: 

Sandstone Outcrops: 

Celtis australis Polypodium vulgare 

Acantha mollis Potentilla splendens 

Asplenium adiantum nignun Sedum coe~leum 

A. trichotomanes Selaginella denticulata 

Ruecus hypophyllum Umbilicus rozizentalis 

Permanent Streams: 

Salix purpurea-helix Rubus fruticosa 

Rosa canina Polypodium vulgare 

r Acer monspessulanum Ranunculus aquatilis 

Nerium oleander Cyperaceaes 

Alpice Meadow: 

Fissidecs taxifolius Bryum torquescecs 

Mnium ucgula tum B. alpicum 

Two additiocal rare plants that occur at El Feidja are Rutus 

incanescens and Rosa gallica. 

Mammals. The El Feidja massif has the highest coccentration of the 

rare barbary deer Cervus elaphus barbarus in Tunisia. Approximately 1,400 

deer inhablt 18,000 ha of forests acd clearings in the area, feeding on 

herbs and mast. Wild boar, jackal, red fox, common genet, Algerian 

hedgehog and North African crested porcupine are also commoc. 

Occasiocally, rare lycx-like caracal Caracal caracal are reported. 

Birds. Abundant rock outcrops and cliffs at El Feidja provide habitat 

for diur~al acd noctsrcal raptors and other ledge or cavity nesting birds. 

Many migrating birds pass through the forest in the spring acd fall, and 

there is also a rich diversity of sedectary species. Commoc birds 

reported for El Feidja (IUCK 1987) inclade: 

Golden eagle Green woodpecker Chaffinch 

n Short-toed eagle Great spotted woodpecker Blackcap 

n Sparrowhawk Turtle dove Spotted flycatcher 

Kestrel Wood pigeon r Firecrest 

Tawny owl Great tit Wren 

Cuckoo Coal tit Raven 

r = Rare 

n = Nesting Birds

C. Irflcerces 

Decse forest cover normally protects the steep slopes from erosioc, 

b ~ the t forests have been altered macy times by fires ard hmar 

maripelatior. More thar 50na of the zec oak have beec hit by flames (~ir. 

For.,l965), some of which was a result of the Frecch-Algeriac war. Local 

irhabjtarts, Frerch color,ialists acd the A1geri.a~ army all exploited the 

forests, oft~c leavire clearings or maq~is that did not regenerate to oak. 

Firebreaks vere also cct acd re-opeced every 3 years. 

Past actiors still icflcerce the ecosystem today, ard exploitatior 

cortinces by the local residects. Cork harvesticg - while cot destructive 

to the oaks - resiilts ir trampled ~ndererovth and distsrbance to the 

faxa. Other forest products, scch as acorns and Myrtiis conm~nis branches 

are also harvested. 

T1 Pridja \

Tunisia/Algeria endemic Quercus afares. Associated vegetation includes: . 

Ilex aqukfolium Sanicula europaea 

Cytisus trif lorus Brachypodfum silvaticum 

Erica arborea Athyrium fklix-femina 

Arbutus unedo r PotentPlla micrantha 

Luzala forsteri Saxifraga veronicifolia 

r Alliaria officinalis r Viola odorata 

r Dryopteris aculeta Prunella vulgaris 

r = Rare 

Two stands of aleppo pine Pinus halepensis exist 3 km northwest and 5 

km cortheast of Fernana. Each stand is c.300 ha in size. The 

interspersion of the aleppo pine stands into the oak forest increases the 

ecotone, or transition zone, between the Kroumirie and the High Tell. 

Biol~gical diversity in the area is enhacced by the Dar Fatma bog (see 

Sectior 3.3.4.5) acd somewhat by the Beni Mtir reservoir. The reservoir 

provides a freshwater rest area for migrating waterfowl and waders, but 

the deep water and urvegetated edges do not favor continual use by large 

numbers of acimals. Downstream from the dam, the Oued Melah is vegetated 

by Neriun olearder, Laurus nobilis, Hypericum androsaemum and other 

riparian placts acd it is reported to be used by mongoose and rare otters 

-- 

Lutra lutra. 

B. Irflaecces 

Exploitatioc of forest vegetation and clearing for cultfvation or 

developmert are the maic factors affecting the ecosystems. 

3.4.1.3. Tabarka 

0c the Mediterranear coast, Tabarka is the northwestern most city in 

Tacisia. The Kroumirie mauntains drop abruptly to the sea to the west of 

Tabarka aad subside more gently to the east. 

A. Vegetation 

Forests in the area are domknated by cork oak and occasionally contain 

Zen oak ard aleppo .. pine. - Southwest of Tabarka there is a maritime pine 

- Pinus picaster ssp. renoui forest near the Algerian border. This 5;500 ha 

natural forest is the largest of its type in Tunisia. Cork oak is mixed 

ic with the forest, but it does not grow well on the acidic soil. Other 

associated species include: 

Erkca scoparium Pistacia lentiscus 

E. arborea Lavacdula stoechas 

Halimiam halimifolium Teucrium fraticacs 

Arbatas ured~

B. Fauca 

To the west of Tabarka is Ain Baccouch, an area containing 50 - 100 

barbary deer. The site is forested to cork oak, with eome zen oak and 

marktime pine (IUCN 1987) and has been designated a permane~t reserve to 

protect it from hunting, exploitation and grazkng (see Section 5.4.10). 

3.4.1.4. Nefza 

Where the Kroumirie ends and the Mogods begin, there 2s a valley 

containing the northward flowing Oued Madena and the City of Nefza. The 

Mogods are lower and not as steep as the Kroumirie and most of the lower 

slopes and valleys have been cultivated. 

A. Vegetation 

There are some well forested areas left in the regioc, such as the 

Belif forest. Belif is claimed to be one of the most productive cork oak 

forests in Tucisia. In 1974 the forest was hit by a tornado that 

destroyed most of the trees ir its path. In 1987, dense vigorous 

regeceration covered the affected area. The regenerating stand is 

protected froui grazing and other exploitation. Understory vegetation in 

the forest includes: 

Calycotome villosa Daphne gnidsum 

Crataegus oxycacthus monogyca Asphodelus microcarpus 

C. azarolas Rubus ulmifolius 

vT Teucrium radicans Alnus glutinosa 

r T. pseado-scorodonia 

A t the north end of the Belif forest is the forest of M'hibes. Cork 

oak is domicart, bat kermes oak is also commoc, and becomes dominant 

toward the coast. Associated species include: 

Olea europaea oleaster Teucrium fruticans 

Pistacia lentiscus Cistus salviifolius 

Myrtus commucis C. monspeliensis 

Erica arboree Pteridium aquilinum 

Chamaerops humilis 

Just south of Nefza at Djebel Abiod and further south at Djebel Sidi 

Ahmed are two mo.~ntain ranges domi~ated by carob Ceratonia siliqua and 

Olea-lectiscus formations, along with: 

Rhamnas alaternus Philly rea angustifolia 

R. lycioides ssp oleoides ssp latkfolia 

South of Djebel Sidi Ahmed is Djebel Rhenza, the location of aE 

isolated stacd of aleppo pine and Arbutus unedo. 

................................................................ 

v = Very Rere T = Tucisia Endemic 

r = Rare

B. Fauca 

Between 50 and 150 barbary deer exist in the M'hibes forest (IUCN 

1987). Wild boar, jackal, red fox, brown hare, and many species of bats 

and rodects also occur near Nefza. 

C. Influences 

Timber harvesting is carefully monitored by the Forestry Directorate, 

but there is an unknown amount of grazing and collection of fodder in the 

forests. Myrtus and Erica branches are also harvested. At M'hibes a 370 

ha reserve has been created to protect the rare barbary deer. 

3.4.1.5. Sejnane 

Toward the eastern end of the Mogods, cork oak is replaced by kermes 

oak maquis. The cork oak that does occur is usually sparse, shows poor 

growth acd is mixed with kermes oak and associated species. Betweec 

Sejcane acd Tamra there is an example of such a maquis, icclading Erica 

scoparia, Myrtus communis and Genista ferox. In the clearings there are 

two uncommoc plants that only occur in this area: Isoetes velata var. 

typica a ~ d the rare ~unisia/~lgeria endemic Armeria spinul~adford and 

Peterken 1969). 

An example of the climax vegetation type can be seen at a place 

northeast of Sejnane by road MC51. Called "Sacred Wood" by Radford and 

Peterkec (19691, the site centers around an old burial shrice. Out of 

respect for the shrine the trees are not cut, but livestock is brought 

into the forest and the ground is almost bare. The approximately 2 ha 

stand is dominated by: 

Quercus suber Myrtus commmis 

Olea europaea oleaster Daphne gcidium 

Pistacia lentiscus Calycotome villosa 

A t the northeast end of the Mogods the hills are lower and gently 

sloping. Kermes oak is replaced by Olea-lentiscus maquis and cultivation 

at the eastern end until Ras el Ahmar on the coast. There, a large, 

isolated aleppe pine forest grows with an understory of kermes oak and: 

3.4.1.6. Djebel Ichkeul 

Pistacia lentiscus Retama monosperma 

Juniperus oxycedrus Chamaerops humilis 

J. phoenicea Lycium sp. 

0c the south side of Lake Ichkeul (Section 3.3.1.1) is Djebel Ichkeul, 

an outlying mountain of the Mogods chain. the mouctaic has ac altitade of 

511 m acd descecds to Lake Ichkeul on the corth side, the Sejcace marsh oc 

the west, Djoumice marsh oc the east and the Mateur plain to the south.

A. Vegetation 

The mountaic is dominated by ac Olea-lentiscus rnaqais (UCL 1977) with 

Phillyrea acgastifolia and Smilax aspera mixed ic. The maquis is also 

interspersed with Chamaerops humilis on rocky ridges, and Jaciper~s 

phoenicea oc the corth skde of the peak and ir the northeast corcer. 

Euphorbia dendroides dominates the maquis oc the west acd soatheast sides. 

Other species of interest icclude: 

T Teucrium schoenecbergeri Notholaeca vellea 

T Limocium boitardii Ceratocia siliqua 


Small, opec glades of short 

maquis, mostly oc the northwest 

vegetated by 

B. Faara 

Hordeum maritimam 

Ferula commucis 

turf grassland are icterspersed in the 

side of the summit. The glades are 

Laguns ovatus 

Asphodelus microcarpss 

The fauna of Djebel Ichkeul is similar to that described for Lake Ichkeal 

(Sectioc 3.3.1 .I ) 

C. Icflaecces 

Active qaarries are disfiguricg the soath side of the mmictain, and 

grazicg also occurs there. The rest of the mountain acd its vegetatioc is 

well protected. Djebel Ichkeal is included with Lakc Ichkezl in the 

Ichkeal National park (see Section 5.4.2). 

3.4.2. High Tell 

Between the Kroumirie and the Tunisian Dorsal mozntain ranges is ac 

area of mouctaics and high plateaus called the High Tell. The mean 

altitude of the plateaas is 600 to 800 m and the higher moactaic peaks 

pass 1000 m (ONUPAA 1985). The mountain chains are orjented SW-HE acd are 

separated by depressiocs acd cultivated plains. The soils of the regioc 

are mostly calcareous, but many locations contain sandstone, gypsum, 

marnes and alluvial deposits. Three main rivers run throagh the High 

Tell: Oued Rellegae, Oaed Tessa, and Oued Siliana, all of which flow icto 

the Medjerda. Bioclimates range from Subhumid ic the northwest to Semiarid 

ic the south. 

The High Tell is more affected by forest clearing acd overgrazicg thac 

the Kroamirie/~ogods. Cultivatioc extends far up many of the slopes, acd 

even orto some of the plateaus. Thas, the forest stands are brok~c zp 

icto discontinzos segrnects. Hunticg of wild boar, browr hare, barbary

partridge, quail and doves occurs at a moderate level, but poaching is a 

serious problem. Barbary hyeca and Cuvier's gazelles could disperse icto 

the High Tell from the Tanisiac Dorsal mountain range, but most of the 

habitat is either of poor quality or icsufficiectly protected. 

3.4.2.1. Chardimaou t6 Le Kef 

Ic the northwest part of the High Tell, south of Chardimaou, there are 

Olea-lentisczs maquis (~ubus almifoliiis variact ic Humid bioclimates and 

Smilax aspera variact ic Sabhumid bioclimates) similar to those of the 

lower south slopes of the Kroumirie. South end east of the Olea-lentiscus 

maquis, aleppo pine becomes dorninact. Aleppo pine occurs throughout the 

High Tell ic association with various other species according to climate 

acd soil factors. 

Or higher, less disturbed slopes aleppo pine is oftec mixed with holm 

oak Querczs *. In the Subhumid locations sosth of Ghardimaoa acd north 

of Tebozrsosk the pice acd oak are associated with species grosps 

icdicated by: Catacacche coer~lea or Colutea arborescecs 

acd co~taicicg Pistacia terebicthus Arbatus unedo 

Acthyllis vulneraria Phillyrea acgastifolia media 

Lonicera implexa Pistacia lectiscus 

Rabia peregrica J;;niper;ls oxycedrus rvfescens 

Aspleci..irn adiactum cigrum Pistacia terebinthus 

Medicago tunetaca 

Degraded areas of these associations will contain 

Rosmaricus officicalis Cistus villos~.is 

F~rnaca thymifolia Cistss mocspeliensis 

Heliacthemam cineream r~bellum 

The summit of Djebel Medjembia (20 km NW of Le ~ef) is vegetated to 

holm oak acd Pistacia terebicthas without aleppo pine. Other associated 


Ampelodesma mauritacica Crataegas azarolus 

Calycotome villosa Bellis silvestris 

Cistas villosus Cheilacthes pteridioides 

Pistacia lectiscus Prassum ma jus 

Phillyrea angustifolia media Orchis provincialis 

This associatioc also occurs at the sammits of Djebel Serdj, Djebel Bargou 

and the plateaa de Kessera in the Tunisian Dorsal mouctain range. 

Soiithwest of the regioc of Sabumid bioclimates there is a wicding strip of 

lacd ic the Semi-arid Superior bioclimate that is vegetated to aleppo pice 

acd rosemary Rosmaricss officicalis. The pice is oftec poor ic form acd

sparse, acd the rkemaq is mixed with: 

Pistacia lectiscus Teucrium pseado-chamaepitys 

Calycotomc villosa B-~pleurum balacsae 

Globalaria alyp~m Lotophyllas argecteus 

Cista mocspeliecsis Fumaca ericoides 

Erica multiflora F. laevipes 

Gecista cicerea F. thymifolia 

Other species such as Ampelodesma mauritacica acd Lygm s~artum 

indicate marcous acd gypsoas soils, respectively. This type of vegetatioc 

extends from Sakiet Sidi Yo~ssef on the Algeriac border acd winds its way 

to Djebcl Toaila, corth of Le Kef. After that it is found on most of the 

moactaics to the northwest as far as Tucis. 

Acother associatioc foacd betweec Ghardimaoa acd Le Kef that occurs 

extecs:vely throigho~t the High Tell is the group of aleppo pice acd 

J.ir2peris phoccicea. Species characterizicg this associatioc icclude: 

Pitsracthos chloracthzs Famaca thymifolia 

Rosmsriczs officicalis F. ericoides 

Cjstas libacotis Avena bromoides 

Glob.~laria aly~~m 

Ebens pinata 

Te.acrium pse.~do-chamaepi tys 

This associatior is also commoc in the Tanisiac Dorsal moactaic range 

acd is characteristic of Semi-arid Irferior bioclimates. The aridi-ty 

caases vargicg decsities of aleppo pine acd juniper, often resulting in 

very oper. stanis. 

The mo~ctaic ridges exter-dicg cortheast from Le Kef are agaic in the 

Semi-erid Saperior bioclinate acd support associations of aleppo -. pice, 

~ 

holm oak ard- Erica m.dtiflora. his- vegetatioc type is scattered over 

severs1 mouctain ridges to the east acd is characterized by: 

Rosnaricas officicalis Lotophyllus argecteus 

Clobzlaria alypum Gecista cinerea 

B.iplear~m balacsac Avena bromoides 

Famaca thynifolia Sideritis iccaca 

F. ericoides 

3.4.2.2. Le Kef to the Tunisiac Dorsal 

The majority of the region to the soath and east of Le Kef is 

c~ltiveted. 0e the moactaic tops acd ridges are heavily grazed acd 

macip,ilated stacds of aleppo pine and associated vegetatioc. Most of the 

associ~tiors are morn arid variacts of those disczssed above. Of special 

ictcrest is the replacemeet of the aleppo - - pjcc - - rosemary Kroap by aleppo 

pice - Jzriperzs ~hoericea ssp. mfescecs. Kacy of the species 

chara~rerizjcg ttc tvo grosps are the same. Whec the aleppo - juniper 

grozp is degraded it is irvaded by rosemary.

The aleppo pine - 

the aouthern areas to 

latter group has many 

former. 

holm oak - Erica rnultiflora group is also altered in 

aleppo pine - holm oak - Erinacea acthyllis. The 

species in commoc with the degraded variact of the 

Most of the hills are domicated by the aleppo pice - rosemary group 

described above. On the lower slopes of some of the hills a group of 

aleppo pice - jxniper - Diplotaxis harra occurs. This is a grcup typical 

of Semi-arid Icferior bioclimates occurricg in a region of maicly Semi- 

arid Superior vegetation types. Other species irdicating the dry lard 

vegetatioc type are: 

Tucica illyrica ssp. angustifolius Anabasis oropedioram 

Artemisia herba alba Stipa parviflora 

Another icteresting vegetatioc group east of Teboarso~k is the t of 

carob - Olea-lectiscus - Jasmicum fraticacs. This grw;p is frcqsectly 

accomparied by: 

Arisarum valga re Bellevalia rnaaritacica 

A r m italscum Ambrosicia bassii 

Rhamcus lycioides oleoides 

The terraic becomes lower acd flatter to the east. C~ltivatioc is 

predonirate except oc some hills occ3pied by alepp~ pine acd rosemary, or 

i~ depressions with halophile vegetation such as at Sebkhet Ko3rzia 

(~ectioc 3.3.2.3).

3.4. Tucisiac Dorsal 

The Tanisian Dorsal is the northeastern extensioc of the Atlas 

mouctaics, which begic ic Morocco, pass through Algeria and enter Tunisia 

at Bou Chebka, 35 km west of Kasserice. Guecod and Schoececberger (1965) 

cocsidered the Tacisiac Dorsal as including the peaks of Djebels Chambi, 

Semmama, Tiouacha, Barbrou, Serdj, Bargou, Fkirine and Zagouan, whkch are 

oriected fairly regularly SW-NE. In this documect the Tucisiac Dorsal 

will be considered as including the above mentioned 'backbone' ridge and 

the adjacect moantaics, such as Djebels Bireno, Serraguia, Oum Jeddour, 

Krhila, Trozza, Ousselat, and Macsoar. The range also extends beyocd 

Djebel Zaghoaac to Cap Boc and includes Djebels Ressas, Bou Komine and 

Sidi Abder Rahmace. As the mountains extend northeast they gradually 

decrease in altit~de. Djebel Chambi ic the southwest is Tucisia's highest 

poict at 1544 m while Dj. Sidi Abder Rahmane in the cortheast has a 

maximum altitade of ocly 637 m. 

The Tucisian Dorsal is composed primarily of calcareoas rmk. Soils 

are si~ilar to those of the High Tell - calcimorph with macy deposits of 

seed, gypsum acd marccz. Hot, dry sammers ar.d stormy precipitatioc 

pattercs make the area especially vulcerable to erosioc. Kacy of the 

sozth slopes are severely eroded acd sediment loads ic rivers are high. 

The three most important rivers origicaticg ic the racge are the Oueds 

Nebhara, Eargselil (El ~erd) acd Zeroud (El ~atob) all of which flow into 

Sebkhet Kelbia (section 3.3.2.4). 

Domicact forest species of the Tucisian Dorsal are holm oak acd aleppo 

pice ic the soathwest acd cecter, to which are added thuya Callitris 

articulata acd kermes oak ic the cortheast. Holm oak ofter. grows as a 

maquis 2-3 m tall or. mouctaic sammits or as ac understory in aleppo .- pine 

~ 

forests or browc calcareous soils. Juniperus phoenicea is commoc ic the 

ucderstory of aleppo pice oe poorer soils and at lower elevations. It 

becomes the characteristic species ic degraded stands. 

3.4.3.1. Djebel Chambi 

Fifteec kilometers west of Kasserine is Dj. Chambi, essectially the 

first high peak of the Tucisiac Dorsal as it enters from Algeria. From a 

summit altitude of 1544 m, Chambi drops to 565 m altitude at the base. 

Along with the typical substrates of the Tucisian Dorsal there are also 

deposits of zinc, galeca, hematite (iron ore) and traces of coal ic the 

Chambi massif (~ir. For. 1981 ). 

The climate at Chambi is somewhat different from nearby Kasserine, 

sicce the precipitation rate increases 20 mm for every 100 q increase in 

altitade. Therefore the relatively dry plaics (semi-arid superior) 

contrast greatly with the Subhumid summit, which receives 12.500 mm annual 

precipitatioc ic the form of raic, hail and sr.ow with additional moisture 

from clc~zds acd fog.

A. Vegetatioc . 

Ac icteresting successioc of holm oak at the summit, passicg aleppo 

pice oc the slopes acd reachicg an esparto Stipa tenacissina steppe at the 

base exists at Chambi. The holm oak association of the sammit inclades 

(~eterkec and Radford 1969, ORSTOK 1962, Dir. For. 1981 ): 

Paronychia argentea 

Amelanchier ovalis 

Phillyrea acgustifolia media 

rNA Sorbus aria 

rNA Cotoneaster racemiflora 

C. numalaria 

Pr~nus prostrata 

Rosa sic~la 

v Delphicium balacsae rNA 

A Campacula atlantica 

Atractylis hamilis 

The aleppo pice forest is accompacied by: 


P. terebinthus 

Cistus salviifolius 

Pimpinella tragium 

Lamium locgiflordm 

Alyssum moctamm atlantica 

Sideritis incaca tunetana 

Silecopsis montaca 

Stipa foctacesii 

Astragalus amatzs 

Carex halleriana 

Retama sphaerocarpa Tezcriiim pseudo-chanaepitys 

Polygala rupestris Astragalus monspessulanas 

Ococis pailla A. foctacesii nnidica 

Erinacea acthyllis Trisetaria flavescecs 

Ic~la moctaca r Bromus squarrosas 

Leuzea cocifcra Jaciperus oxycedrzs rufescecs 

Rosmaricus officinalis Cistzs libanotiis 

Globzlaria alypum Heliacthemum ciceret;rn rubellum 

Fw,aca thymifolia Avena bromoides 

F. ericoides Teucrim polism 

F. laevipes Corocilla micima 

Other associatiocs of icterest (~ir. For. 1981) are characterized by: 

1) Cistzs villosus 

Lonicera implexa 


Pistacia terebinthus 

Buplezram gibraltariciim 

Bellis silvestris 

2) Ampelodesma mauri tacica Bilpleunm balansae 

Onocis pusilla B. spinosum 

Hedysanm pallidum Juniperus oxycedrus rdfescens 

3 1 Stipa tenacfssima Thymus hirtus 

Juciper-us phoecicea Teucrium compac tum 

Lotus creticus collicus Thymelaea tartoc raira 

4 Artemisia herba alba 

A. canpestris 

Plactago albicacs 

Hcliacthemzm hirt~n nficomm 

Gecista microcephala Pitaracthos chloracthas 

Olea earopaea oleaster Thymelaea hirszta 

Rhus tripartitum Pistacia atlactica 

Retama raetan Hed y sa ram spj cosissirn

B. Fauca 

-- Mammals. Fama of Djebel Chambi are listed ic Sectton 4 (Gouvernorat 

of ~asserice). Featured animals include approximately 200 hvier's 

gazelles Gazelle cuvieri. After being almost extirpated from Txisia 

durirg colocial times, the gazelles are cow increasicg ic comber acd 

dispersing along the Tunisiac Dorsal (H.P. Mallei-, pers. corn. ) . Aoudad 

Ammotragas lervia were extirpated from the park and have been 

reintroduced. Fozr males escaped from ac acclimatization enclosare and 

six females acd yoang are still ic captivity. Hyena are common enough to 

have had a serious impact oe the wjld boar populatioc. Local officials 

reported that an average of 10 hyecas are killed by vehicles oe the roads 

near Kasserine each year. 

Eirds. Mary raptors, including egyptiac vultures and threatened 

peregrices, rest at Chambi. A wide variety of other forest acd steppe 

species also occx ic the area. 

A 6723 ha catiocal park was created at Chambi (~octioc 5.4.3) ic 1980, 

which reduced most of the detrimental hurnac icfluences on the environmect. 

Some small fires still occar and park facilities are beicg cocstructed, 

but the ecosystem is ic excellect cocditioc. Fires actdally improve the 

habitat for the gazelles acd aoudad by creatirg small clearicgs with 

abacdact herbs. Aleppo pice cores are collected eccuelly for their seeds, 

which are eater or sold to csrseries. This does cot appear to 

sigcificactly affect regeceratioc ic the forest. 

3.432 Djebel Bireno 

Die corth of Dj. Chanbi acd 35 km corthwest of Kasserice is Dj. 

Bireco. Averagicg 1100 m ic altitsde (maximum 1419 m), Bireco is formed 

of marc? and limestoce acd has hard, oftec eroded, soils. The bioclimate 

is Semi-arid S~perior. 

A. Vegetatioc 

A t the summit the vegetation association is aleppo pine, holm oak and 

Juciperus oxycedr~s rufescecs. The pine is of poor form and rather 

sparse; the oak is 1-2 m tall. Descending dowc the slope, the pine 5s 

larger acd decser and holm oak is replaced by other plants, such as 

rosemary acd Ampelodesma meuritacica (oc marnes) . A t the base of B5reno 

the pine is agaic small acd sparse due to exploitatioc, clearing and drier 

cocditiors. Associated vegetatioc iccludes (ORSTOM 1962): 

Globzlaria alypurn 

Retama sphaerocarpa 

I?. raetam 

Cistus villosus 

C. mocspeliensis 

Cecista argentea

with gypsous soils icdicated by Lygeum spartum and drier locatiocs 

icdicated by esparto grass end juciper. Pastoral species iccliide: 

B. Fauna 

Artemesia herba alba Hippocrepis scabra 

A. cempestris Psoralea bitumicosa 

Medicago tunetana Coronilla juccea 

Lotus sp. C. minima 

A long racge of cliffs below the ridge oc Dj. Bireco provides several 

favorable locatiocs with ledges, cevlties and caves for mammal decs or 

raptor nests. Mammals inclade hyena, jackal, red fox, wild boar, North 

African crested porcupice, Algerian hedgehog, gundi acd bats. Bkrds 

inclsde: 

C. Icfliiecces 

tc Peregrice Black redstart Turtle dove 

Ban: owl Black wheatear Ravec 

Sarbary partridge Chaff inch 

Ic respocse to erosioc problems, some terracing has beec doze on the 

steeper slopes. Oce fifth of the forest has been designated as 

regeceratior- forest to protect it from exploitatioc acd grazicg, thzs 

echancicg the forest cover and reducicg erosioc. Although grazicg is 

reduced somewhat in the regeneration forest, it still occnrs there acd 

throsghout the forest. Other forest use includes harvesticg rosemary 

bracches for distillation and fuelwood collection. 

3.4.3.3. Djebel Mrhilla 

One of the moxtaics flanking the main 'backboce' of the Tiicisiac 

Dorsal is Dj. Mrhilla. It is located oc the south side of the Dorsal, 10 

kn corth of Sbeitla acd 45 km northeast of Kasserine. The altitsde is 

1378 m at the highest summit acd 1058 m at the second, soiitherr. peak. 

Slopes are rocky with many bare rock outcrops. 

A. Vegetatioc 

The vegetatioc associations are similar to those of Dj. Chambi (~aenot 

19651, bst Mrhilla is lower and has only beec protected for 3 years, so it 

is more degraded. Aleppo pice grows fairly well at the ssmmit, but the 

holm oak in the understory is stucted, deformed and very sparse. Eroded, 

thic soils result in many bare areas betweer, the rosemary hshes on the 

slopes. Humus acc.~mulatiocs ic the watersheds are icdicated by Pistacia 

lectisc~s acd Phillyrea angustifolia. Jsciperss phoecicea acd esparto 

grass icdicate the drycess of the slopes, acd the base of the mountaic is 

dornir-ated by esparto grass acd thermophiles like rosemary acd Clobularia 

alyp~a. A rare, North Africac ecdemic plact recorded for KrhLlla is 

Sorb.~s aria. 

--

B. Fauca 

Mammals living or. Dj. Mrhilla !include the North Africac ecdemic gufidi, 

which is preyed upon by red fox and jackals. Other rodects, brow. hare, 

bats, wild boar and occasional hyenas also occur in the area. 

- Birds icclude many species of diurnal and cocturnal raptors acd: 

Wood ptgeon Goldfinch Black wheatear 

Barbary partridge Chaffinch Nigh ticgale 

Crested lark Hoopoe Raven 

C. Icfluences 

Although Hrhilla has beec protected for 3 years, some grazirg still 

occurs. 

3.4.3.L. Djebel Selloum 

Arother moactaic flackicg the maic 'backbore' of the Tanisiar Dorsal 

is Dj. Selloum, located 5 km southeast of Kasserice. The altitude is 1248 

meters at the sammit, which is quite blunt and approaches plateaz form ic 

some places. There are several bards of low cliffs (2 - 20 m) frscgicg 

the samait, and the lower slopes are icterrapted by macy rock oztcrops. 

The maic vegetation associations are essectially the same as those on 

Dj. Mrhilla acd similar fauna wozld also be expected. A plact of special 

irterest is the Tucisian ecdemic Gecista microcephala var. tucetaca. 

3.4.3.5. Djebel Ousselat 35'42' I4 9'44' E 

Forty km northwest of Kairouan is acother outlying moaetaic of the 

Tacisiac Dorsal. Dj. Ousselat has ac altitzde of 895 m, which descecds 

steeply, with macy cliffs, to the Low Steppes. Substrates of the south 

face are often dominated by marble. Soils are thin, dark and very rocky 

on the slopes. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Formerly, the dominant associatior. was aleppo pine, Juciperds 

phoecicea, Dtplotaxis harra (~uecot 1965) , but there is ltttle aleppo pjne 

remainicg and the degradation stages are now dominact. On some slopes 

there is little soil, sparse jur.iper and few herbs. A commoc maquis 

association appears to be Olea-lentiscus, carob. Rosemary occzrs, bl;t is 

sparse ic macy areas. Nerium oleander grows alocg the stream beds acd ic 

moist locatiocs oe the slopes.

B. Fauca 

Ousselat is importact in terms of biological diversity because it is a 

nesticg locatioc for egyptiac vultures, peregrices, acd booted eagles. 

Macy other raptors and other acimal species occur oc Djebel Oasselat (see 

Sectioc 4, Goavernorat of ~airouac). 

A large marble quarry exists on the south side of the mouctain. 

Grazicg is so intense that by late summer little remains ic the herb 

layer. Ic the prime raptor cesting areas, human disturbance would be 

detrimectal to cesticg success. 

3.4.3.6. Djebel Serdj 35'56' N 9'33' E 

Djebel Serdj is ore of the maic ridges of the Tanisiac Dorsal. It 

lies 90 km cortheast of Dj. Semmama, 20 km southeast of Siliaca and 60 km 

corthwest of Kairouac. A t the highest peak the altitude is 1357 m. 

A. Vegetation 

The vegetatio~ is particalarly rich oc Dj. Serdj. At the summit is e 

meadow associatioc of herbs acd shrabs (ORSTOM 1962) characterized by: 

Pracus prostrata 

IJA Cectaarea incaca 

C. lagascae 

Trifoliam cherleri 

Poa balbosa 

* Acthoxacthum odoratum 

Acdrosace maxima 

* Horcacgia petraea 

* Geraniam lucidum 

Ophrys lutea subfusca 

= Southerc l i m i t of geographical range 

Thymas algeriecsi s 

Te~crium poliam 

Armeria plantagicea 

Vicia ocobrychioides 

Acthy llis vulceraria 

Alyssum montacum 

Sideritis iccaca txetaca 

Acthemis pucctata 

Tulipa silvestris 

T. a,~stralis 

Oc corth facicg rock crests is ac associatio~ characterized by: 

rNA Draba hispacicus Alyssum montanum 

HO rnaga petraea Sedum sp. 

Ic moist, shaded rocky areas, additional species are four.d, sach as: 

Saxif raga tridactylites Arabis auriculata 

S. carpetana A. tucetana 

ORSTOK (1962) also described an association characteristic of high 

platea~s of the Tucisiac Dorsal dominated by Baple~r~m spjcos:m acd

Astragalis fortanesii ssp. numidicds. Along permacect streams the 

vegetatioe tecds to be composed of: 

Pop~lus alba Ranunczlus macrophylla 

Fraxinus angustifolia Vitis vicifera 

Ulmus campestris Carex remota 

Rubus ulmifolius Poa trivialis 

Rosa sp. Equisetum maximam 

Nerium oleacder 

Hedioscladium nodiflorum 

Clycera fluitacs 

On the upper slopes there are a little over 1,000 cork oak growicg far 

south of the normal racge. There are also stands of the rare maple tree 

growirg ic association with (ORSTOM 1962, Peterkec acd 

Radford 1969 

Qaercus ilex 

rCA Sorbus aria 

Rosa poazici 

Crataegas azarolus 

Rac~cc~lus ficaria 

)!elacdrisn divaricatam 

Brassica gravicae 

Vicia ocobrychioides 

vNA Viola mzcbyaca 

Gcracism robertiacam purpureum 

Tamus conmznis 

Rabss almifolizs 

Delphlcium emarginatsm 

Lamiam locgifloriim cumidicum 

Scrophalaria laevigata 

r Arabis verca 

Festaca ovica 

Armeria plactagicea 

Some of the lower slopes have holm oak dominated vegetatioc similar to 

that of Dj. Eargoa (see followirg sectioc) and others have vegetatioc 

typical of dry, degraded maritime to continental aleppo pice associatiocs 

with marne acd humus acc;lmalatiocs as described for Dj. Mansozr. There 

are also about 1,500 ha of Maktar cypress Capressus semvervirecs ssp. 

cumidica nixed with aleppo pice ic the ravines. 

Faaca of the regioc is listed ic Section 4 (~ouvercorat of ~iliana). 

Of special icterest is ac extroardicary populatioc of bats ic or? of the 

caves (~ssi, pers. comm.). 

C. Influences 

The forests are managed and exploited in a manner that is not 

detrimental to the overall vegetatioc cover. However, exploitatioc acd 

grazing ic some areas appears to have allowed serious erosioc to start. 

The rare maple tree mocspessalacum and cork oak are ic such low 

numbers that exploitatioc without serfous regeneratior efforts wmld 

threatec their coctinued presecce. 

3.43. Djebel Bargou 36'04 * 9 9'36 ' E 

Kortheast of Dj. Serdj acd 20 km east of Siliaca is Djebel Sargoz. 

The summit altit~de is 1268 m acd the slgpes are moderate to steep. A 

racge of cliffs approximately 10 - 53 m high, rearo th? crest at Zchila, 

has several irteresticg caves acd ledges.

A. Vegetation 

The vegetatioc is very rich, with a high meadow associatioc at the 

summit, similar to that described for Djebel Serdj ic the previoss 

sectioc. Below the meadow is a hblm oak dominated associatior (ORSTOM 

1962). with Acer monspessulanum ic some areas (as at Dj. ~erd j) and other 

areas vegetated to: 

Pkstacia terebicthus Asplecium adiantam cigrum 

Lonicera implexa Geranium lucidam 

Prasium ma jus G. robertiacam Firpaream 

Ruscus hypophyllum Fumaria capreolata 

Heliacthemam glaucum Cynosarus elegacs 

Alysszm serpyllifoliam Pimpicella tragium 

A. moctanam atlacticum Sature ja alpica etc.. . 

Streamside vegetation is also similar to that oc Dj. Serdj, with some 

Typha acgastifolia at the base of the mouctaie. In degraded locatiocs, 

where the humzs has been removed, holm oak is replaced by sleppo pice and 

Rosmaricss officicalis Erica mzltiflora 

Globularia alypm Ericacea acthyllis etc.. . 

Ic the lower pine forests, vegetation associatiocs similar to those 

described for Dj. Mansodr occar with cocticectal species ssch as Jcciperus 

oxvcedras replacicg the maritime species. Ac associatior iaportact ic the 

'i'zcisiac Dorsal is that of carob, Olea-lectiscus, Rhamnss lycioides ssp. 

oleoides maqais; with Myrtas cornmanis acd Crataegas azarolus mixed in on 

Dj. Bargoa. 

B. Faaca 

Faxa are listed ir Sectioc 4 (Go7~vercorat of ~iliaca). Of special 

icterest is tho presecce of North Africac crested porczpice, hyeca and 

cesticg peregrines. 

Olives at the base of the mountain have been grafted acd tended sicce 

Romac times. Edges of the lower streams are cultivated acd grazing occurs 

throughout the year. Some rosemary branches are harvested for 

distillatioc, bat not in great amounts, and the )Iyrtus is commoc enough 

for effective harvesticg. Ic order to ecsure an adeqaate forest cover to 

prevent erosion, uoodcatting is cot permitted. Macy of the bare areas 

still show sigcs of erosion. 

3.4.3.8. Djebel Macsoar 36'17' : 9'42' E 

Corth of the backbone ridge of moactains, 40 km soathuest of Zaghosac 

and 20 km southwest of le Fahs is Djebel Macsozr. The szmait altit~de is 

678 m acd the topography (moderate to steep slopes) acd ssbstratcs (marcocalcareoas) 

are typical of the Tucisiac Dorsal. Two or three permacect 

spricgs affect the water regime of the slopes, locally favc~ricg riparian 

placts. The bioclimate is Semi-arid Inferj or.

A. Vegetatioc 

Dj. Hansour is fairly well covered by aleppo pine, averaging 5-7 m 

tall. Low, shrubby holm oak is scattered ir. parts of the forest. 

Occasiocal clearings in the forest cover are domicated by rosemary and 

heather. The forest was burned in 1938 and there have beec some selectior. 

cuts, which affect species compostion. The geceral vegetation profile 

reported by ORSTOM (1 962) is as follows: 

Picus helepecsis 

Quercus ilex 

accompacied by thermophiles and calcicoles 

Rosnarinus officinalis Gecista argentea 

Globularia alypum G. cicerea 

B;pleul-m balacsae Teucriam poliam 

Fzmaca thymif olia Ebecus piccata 

F. laevipes Aveca bromoides etc... 

A maritime icfliecce is shown by the presecce of 

Erica multiflora Fumaca arbi ca 

while the drier sites are characterized by 

Jaciperss phoecicea S ti pa teccacissima 

0c marcous soils some species are replaced by Ampelodesma na~ritarica. 

Humas acczmalations are icdicated by 

Pistacia lentiscas Jasmican friiticacs 

Phillyrea acgastif olia 

Degradation caused by fires is icdicated by 

Cistus villosas Cist.2~ mocspeliecsis 

This vegetation profile is typical of the aleppo pice forests from Dj. 

Semmama to Dj. Fkirine. 

B. Fauca 

The fauna is composed of the species listed for mountaicoas areas ic 

the Gouvernorat of Zaghouac (Sectioc 4). Of special interest is the 

presecce of North Africac crested porcupices acd (rarely) hyecas. 

C. Influences 

Hamac icflaecces icclsde managemect cats, occasiocal P;elwood 

gathericg, acd grazicg. The soils are ssbject to erosioc if the 

vegetatioc cover is removed.

343.9 Djebel Zaghouan 

Irunediately south of the city of Zaghouan and 57 km ~02th of Tacis is 

Dj. Zaghouac. A series of moderate to steep slopes interspersed with rock 

outcrops acd cliffs rise to a summit at 1295 m altitude. Racy of the 

rocky dome outcrops fracture, break off, and fall, resalting ic low cliffs 

and rock strewc slopes. Snow is common in the winter and the acnual 

precipitation rate (450 - 500 mm) is higher than that of the sarroucdicg 

area. 

A. Vegetation 

The high altitude, maritime acd coctinental influences acd northerc 

locatioc have resulted ic a diversity of vegetatioc associatibns on Dj. 

Zaghouac. 0c the summit a sparse, low-shrub, meadow-like vegetatioc 

domicates. Holm oak domicates aroucd the summit acd the high slopes of 

the corth side. The holm oak association is similar to that of Dj. 

Bargo;, with the additioc of Orchis provincialis, Corocilla valentica acd 

Tulipa silvestris. 

Parts of the holm oak forest are also characterized by the &r 

mor!spess~lacus associatioc described for Dj. Serdj. Ac aleppo pice forest 

similar to that of Dj. Macsour domicates the spper slope or the west side. 

Most of the lower slopes are characterized by degradetior- stages of the 

pice forest. The icflzecce of the maritime climate ox the vegetatioc 

reszlts ic the appearacce of: 

Qaercus coccifera Erica m~ltiflora 

Callitris articulate Fumaca arbica 

The maic degradation associatioc fo the lower slopes tecds toward Olea- 

lectisczs, carob, with scattered groves of aleppo pice zp to 7 m tall acd: 

Pi.stacia terebicthus Calycotome villosa 

Jasmicum f r~ticans Phillyrea arg;stifolia media 

Occasiocal fires allow icvasioc of barred areas by 

C ~ S ~ Umocspeliecsis S 

Ampelodesma maarita~ica 

C. villosus 

Alocg the lower streams a Pop~lus albe associatioc domicates. Some 

aleppo pine, acacia, acd Maktar cypress have beer placted on the mountair. 

A species of interest occuricg ic the maquis is Euphorbia decdroides. 

A rare Tucisiac endemic species is Licaria reflexa var. daumeti. Peterkec 

and Radford (1969) reported the followicg rare placts for Dj. Zaghouac: 

Phagcaloc cycodon Sicapsis pabescecs v. polyclade 

Lamiam locgif lorum Saxifraga dichotoma (very rare)

B. Fauna 

Fauna of special interest are the many species of raptors that Rest on 

ledges and in cliff cavities oc Dj. Zaghozac, such as egyptiar vulture, 

golden eagle, peregrire acd kestrel (see Section 4, Gouvernorat of 

~aghouar) 

. 

C. Influences 

There have been some problems in the past with people collecting 

raptor eggs at Dj. Zaghoaac. A special guardian is now assigned to the 

major cest sites during the breeding season. Small fires occur almost 

every year, bat they are qaickly located acd extinguished, so they do 

little damage. The forest as classified as unmacaged, which means no 

exploitation or improvemert cuts. Ic pricciple a large part of the north 

slope is closed to grazing, which reduces the grazicg impacts, but does 

not eliminate them. Some members of the local ornithological association 

feel the site is importact ecoiigh to be desigcated a natiocal park. 

3.4.3.1C. Djebel Marchana, Dj. Zit, Dj. Bou Safra 

Northeast of Zaghoaac, jast before the Tacisiac Dorsal extecds into 

Cap Bor, is a trio of moxtairs 350 - 500 m high. The mountains are 

characterized by moderate slopes with numerous rock ostcrops. Substrates 

are diverse, incladirg limestore, marce acd gypsum covered by shallow, 

well draired soils. 

A. Vegetatior 

A t the ssrnmit of Dj. Zit, the vegetatioc is characteristic of holm oak 

stacds. The maritime icflaecce or the vegetatioc associatioc has resulted 

ic thuga ard kerrnes oak replacicg aleppo pice as the domicact tree species 

ic most of the forests. A maritime irfluecce is also icdicated by the 

preserce of Erica maltiflora. The thuya forest or Dj. Zit coctaics many 

of the species associated with aleppo pire forests (as described for Dj. 

~acsoar) as well as Lavardzla stoechas ard Erfca arborea. 

Djebel Karchaca has a large Olea-lectiscus maquis oc the soath side 

(~asser acd Vercet 1958) acd at Bou Safra the thuya forest is accompacied 

by: 

B. Faara 

Rosmariras of ficinalis Phala ris bulbosa 

Calycotome villosa Genista aspathaloides 

Globalaria alypam Cistus monspeliensis 

Ampelodesma maaritarica C. villosus 

Stipa teccacissjma Lygeum spartum 

Faxa of the 3 mozrtaics is typical of that listed for mo.xtaicoas 

areas ir. the Gozverr3rat of Zaghnzar (~ectior. 

4).

Djebel Bou Safra has been a permanent reserve since about 1980. 

b Hunting, grazing and vegetattoc cutti~g are prohibited. Sicce there is a 

fair vegetatioc cover, erosion is cot severe and terracicg acd placting 

has been done to reduce future problems. Removal of vegetatioc wv~ld 

leave the slopes very vulcerable to erosion. 

3.4.3.11. Djebel Reseas 

Djebel Ressas is 25 km so2theast of Tunis. Sharp cliffs rise up from 

moderately steep slopes at the base to a peak 795 m kc altitude. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Thuya is the dominact tree of Dj. Ressas, and it grows ic association 

with garrigiies composed of combinatiocs of olea-lectiscus and (~1-~amrosni 

1979): 

Q~ercas coccifer-~s Rosmarinzs of ficinalis 

Calycotorne villosa Lavacdula mslti fida 

Periploca laeviga ta Thymus capitatas 

Rhamcus lycioides Teacrizm poli~~rn 

Prasium majiis Genista cicerea s. cicerea 

Jasmicsm f ruticacs Erica miiltiflora 

Cistzs monspeliensis 

Fraxinas dinorpha 

Phillyrea acgiistifolia 

and macy species of herbs and grasses; cotably: 

Brachypodium ramosam Tarnus cornmzeis 

B. Distachyum Dactylis glomerata 

v Cyclamec persicurn Ampelodesma mauritacica 

There is also an associatioc kndicated by: 

Brassica cretica Eaphorbia decdroides 

and a meadow association coctaicicg: 

B. Fauca 

Stipa capensis Atractylis caccellata 

Erycgium ilicifolium 

Djebel Ressas is of special interest as a prime cesticg locatioc for 

raptors. Recorded species icclude peregrine, kestrel acd egyptiac 

vult~re. Other fauna that occur ic the area are listed ic Sectioc 4 

(~oavercorat of ~ x i s ) 

.

C. Icfluecces 

The mouctaic slopes are grazed and some vegetation cutticg may occur, 

but the steep cliffs protect the higher vegetation acd the cesticg sites. 

3.4.3.12. Djebel Bou Korn5ne 36'42' N 10~20' E 

In the west side of Hammam-Lif, 18 km southeast of Tucis, is the 

double-peaked Djebel Bou Kornice. From an altit~de of 10 m, steep slopes 

rfse to an elevatioc of 576 m at the highest peak. Limestoce acd marce 

substrates typical of the Tunisiac Dorsal are weathered by almost 420 mm 

of ancual precipitation at the base, which iccreases to 660 - 700 mm at the szmmit. 

A. Vegetatioc 

The domicact vegetatioc types of Boz Korcice are thuya forests acd 

maqzis, which cover 90dp of the mouctaic. Average heights of thzya ic the 

forested zoces are 6-7 m. Stacds of aleppo pice, pigroc pice Pirss picea, 

Acacia cyacophylla, Cupresszs sp. and eucalypt~s have beer plerted oc 

varioss parts of the mouctaic. Other plact species occurricg or Boa 

Korcire are listed ic figure 9. 

Tht. faura of B3u Korcice is very diverse (see Sectior 4, ~zris). Of 

special icterest is the occurrecce of Borth Africac crested porczpice, 

wild boar, kaffir cat, several species of bats, threateced peregrine 

falcocs acd egyptiac vultures. Cuvier's gazelles were observed ic 1930. 

The forest cover of Boa Korcice has protected the slopes from seriozs 

erosioc problems, bzt terracing was doce on some of the slopes to prevent 

possible future problems. There are a few plactetiocs oc the mouctaic acd 

olive groves acd vinyards at the base. Occasiocally, caper Ca~~aris 

spieoszs buds acd other forest prodacts are collected, bst the most 

disruptive humac influence oc the mouctaic is a series of 9 qaarries 

extracting gypsum acd construction material. 

Djebel Bou Komine is uninhabited and has been protected from grazicg 

since 1929 (peterken and Radford 1969). Part of the moactaic was 

established as a natiocal park on 17 February 1987. There are plans for 

macagemeet and cocstructioc of park facilities (see Sectioc 5.4.5).

Flora of Djebel BOJ Kom.ice 

(after Dir. For. 1985, El-Hamrouci 1979) 

Trees and shrubs: 

Arbutus unedo 

Calli tris articulata . Pistacia lectiscus 

Ceratocia siliqaa P. terebinth~s 

Crataegus azarolus Quercus ilex 

Myrtas cornmanis Q. coccifera 

Olea europaea oleaster Rhus sp. 

Phillyrea angastifolia media Tamarix sp. 

Artirrhiram majus 

Asparag~s acztifolias 


Capparis spirosa 

Chamaerops hzmilis 

Cistss libacotus 

C. morspeliecsis 

Cororilla valertica 

Ephedra brounailles 

Erica multiflora 

Genista sp. 

Globalaria alypum 

Jasmirum f ruticacs 

Kectrartus ruber 

Low, woody placts: 

Herbs ard 

Aceras acthropophorum 

Rlli.sm cupaci 

A. pariculatum 

Ampelodesma maaritacica 

Arisararn vnlgare 

Arrhexathersm elatus 

Asplecisrr. adiantum 

Brachypodium rarnoszm 

Brassica cretica 

Calchicum cupari 

v Cyclamec persicum 

Feriala commucis 

Gladiolas byzarticus 

Iris juncea 

I. plarifolia 

Le;coinm a.~t omnale 

Narcissus elegars 

Ophrys atlectica 

G. rssea 

G. l.;tea 

r = rare placts 

v = very rare placts 

Lavacdula multifida 

Lavatera albia 

Lonicera implexa 

Nerium olcarder 

Opmtia ficus icdica 

Periploca laevigata 

Prasium ma jas 

Rosmarinxi officicalis 

Ruscus hypophyllum 

Ruta chalepecsis 

Smilax aspera 

Thymelea hirszta 

Thymus vulgaris 


grasses: 

r Ophrys scolopax 

0. sub-fasca 

0. lenthredici fira 

Orchis acatolica 

0. collirea 

0. longioialis 

0. provincialis 

0. papiliocacea 

Polypodium valgare 

Ranucculus f lammula 

R. spicatus 

Romulea bulbocadium 

Scilla aztamnalis 

S. lsngulata 

S. rmidica 

Sedum coerulesm 

S. sediforme 

Stipa tecacissina 

Tulipa silvestris 

Urgicea maritima

3.4.3.13. Djebel Sidi Abder Rahmane 36'49' 1: 10~45' E 

Or the large pecics:.ila of Cap Boc is Dj. Sidi Abder Rahnace, which 

rises to ac altitude of 637 m. Moderately steep slopes drop qcickly to 

the C.df of Tccis or the corthwest side acd level oy.it to low plaics to the 

southeast. The maritime icfliiecce noderates temperatiires acd resclts ic 

fairly high a~rual rainfall augmented by frequert fog ard high humidity. 

A. Vegetatioc 

Cocditiocs or. Dj. Sidj. Abder Rahnace previozsly favored a cork oak 

forest along the ectire ridge, which is uccsiial sirxe cork oak is more 

characteristic of the Kroumirie, far to the west. 60w ocly a few cork oak 

stacds remaic. The ciirrect domicact species is kernes oak, which 

domicates the coastal climax vegetatiw from Eizerte to l!abecl (ORSTON 

1962). Thiiya also domirates some forest stacds oe the so;;theast side acd 

is dispersed ic the forests acd maquis throzghoiit the moncteic. 'ii'here the 

thiiya or kermes oak forest has beer degraded, ec Olea-lectiscs., carob 

naqliis is presect. Sriall staeds of aleppo p5r.e ard holm oak similar t.2 

those described for other n3ertair.s of the T,xisSac 33rsal are fo2r.2, as 

well as P3palcs elba assocjatiors a1or.g the rivers. 

- 

The cork oak forest cottaits several speci~s ckaractfristic of the 

Krozmirfe, szch as: 

Cytisus triflor~s 

Carex sj lvatica 

Ear~cc~lcs ficari a 

R. spi.cat1.i~ 

as well as nay other species more typical of Cap B3e ard t h varyicg ~ 

cocditiors of soil, clicate acd altjtnde: 

? Brassica cretica atlactica 

r Diacthcs rcpicola hermaecsis 

TA Certaurea gymcocarpa papposa 

Smilax aspera ( h~mus) 

Tamus conmccis " 

Jcciperns oxycedrus (sacdy soils) 

acd degraded zoces with: 

Rosmaricus officicalis 

Trifoliun scabrum 

Fcmaca thymifolia 

Acacth~s nollis platyphyllns 

ScabS.osa far5 cosa 

Acthgllis barba jovis 

Cerista ~lcica (acj d scils) 

Lavecdda stoechas " 

E-~phorbia bivocae (s.imnit) 

Jucipercs phoecj cea 

Cistiis villos~is 

Phagealoe rupestre 

Kernes oak oftec replaces cork oak ic its characteristic associatiocs 

or is fo1.ir.d ir. a variety of other associatiocs, whlch are described b:~ 

OESTO;: (:962).

B. Fauna 

Cap Bon Ss an importact site for migraticg raptors (Sectioc 2.4) acd 

tnacy stop to rest on Dj. Sidi Abder Rahmace. Common fauna of Cap Boc are 

listed kn Section 4 (~ouvernorat of ~abeul). 

C. Influences 

Dj. Sfdi Abder Rahmane is unfnhabited and timber harvesting is not 

allowed, but grazicg is heavy and vegetetioc cutting is not uncommon. The 

high precipitation rates make the slopes sensitive to erosion when the 

vegeta tion cover is removed.

3.4.4. Mouctairs of the High Steppe 

Between the Tucisiac Dorsal and the chotts are macy scattered moantaic 

chains ic the high steppe. Some of the chains are ac extecsioc of the 

Saharac Atlas (IUCN 1987). The geceral oriectatioc of the rnosctaic chairs 

is E-W along the cortherc border of the chotts, acd NE-SkI near the 

Tuniskan Dorsal. Varyicg in altitude from 600 m to over 1100 rn, the 

mouctaics are gecerally rocky (calcareous) acd eroded. 

Low precipitation rates and ac iclacd locatioc give the mozntains 

Semi-arid to Arid bioclimates. Most of the rair falls ic wicter 

cloudbursts ar.d storms, which causes much of the water to rx off the 

surface into aeasocal streams. This runoff leaves less water for 

vegetatioc grbwth and iccreases erosioc problems. 

Vegetation. Formerly maKy of the moactaics were forested to aleppo 

pine. Today Inbst of the pice has disappeared, leavicg or-lp relics of the 

original forest with a few pice trees acd a garrjgae of Juci~erJs 

hoecicea. Ir geceral, the vegetation associatiors of the degraded 

:metair. forest ecosystems icclude (ORSTOO 1966 2) : 

Jaciperzs phoenicea 

Globularia alypm 

Cecista cicerea 

Lavacdula maltifida 

Periploca laevigata 

or, or the high plateazs: 

Phymcs algerietsi s 

Fanace thymif olia 

Ebecus piccata 

Phagcaloc x- pestr re 

Tslipa silvestris s. australis 

Rosmaricus officicalis Globalaria aly~n 

Cistas libacotis Ebecus piccata 

Helianthemum semi glabr~n Famaca thymifolia 

Thymelea tarton-raira F. ericoides 

Aveca bromoides Astragalus iccacus cammularizm 

Ic the regioc of Sidi Bou Zid - Cafsa, the forest relics ofter coctaic: 

Olea ezropaea oleaster Jasmican fsuticzcs 

Pistacia atlactica Prasian ma jus 

Fumana laevipes Aspleniam adiactam cigrum 

Phillyrea angustifolia media 

Interspersed in the forest relic associatiocs and domicating the 

vegetation of some of the mouctaics is esparto grass Stipa tenacissima. 

The lower slopes are domicated by esparto grass acd Gecista ~icrocephala 

ca etellata acd the plains are characterized by ac esparto grass 

:8t:p;bioc 3.5). 

- 

Fauca. Fauca of special icterest ic the mouctalrs of the high steppe 

icclsde the North Africac ecdemic gucdi, ?lorth Africzc crested porc;pires, 

rare hyecas, occasiocal Czvler's gazclles ard aozdad. More comnor species 

include jackel, red fox, wild boar, gecet, acd czmeross rodects (see 

Sectioc 4, Couvercorats of Sidi Bou Zid, Gafsa, Kasserice, "war).

Icfl~ecces. The scarcity of vegetation resources in the hieh steppe 

puts a high demecd oc the forage acd woody plants in the mocrtaics. 

Grazicg is so heavy that herbs are oftec eaten before they drop seed ecd 

many of the woody placts have been hedged by livestock or c ~ far t 

fiielvoad. This leaves the groucd bare acd v~lnerable to erosion when the 

first wicter storms start. 

The E-K oriented chaie of mouctaics passice throsgh Cefsa, to the 

north of acd parallel to the chotts, separates the high esparto grass 

steppes from the more arid steppe areas of the so~th. Two locatiocs of 

special interest alocg that chaic are described below. 

4 . 

Djebel Bou Ramli 

Djebel 93: Eamli is located 25 km cortwest of Gafsa. A s m m i t 

altltcde of 1:56 n makes Dj. Eo.; 3amli the highast of the nor;rtalcs to the 

west of Gafsa. Rocky, calcareo~s slopes descecd to esparto grass steppes 

or- t n c3rt.h ~ sjde acd sebkhets oc the south side. 

Esparto Grass grows over the entire mosctaic, j.c ass3ciet,ioc vi.th 

degrade6 popl;latjocs of Juriper~s ~hoecicea acd holm oak at the sumit, 

ard G~riste nicroce~hale var. capitella acd Artemisja canpestris or the 

lower slopes. There are also associatiocs of rosemary or the slopes. A t 

the fo9t 3f the noxtaic, Parsetia aegyptiaca and Cladarthss arabiccs grow 

with the ~sperto grass acd extecd Scto the scrra~rding plaics. A c~mber 

of rarE species are also foscd ic the rich flora of this arid nouxtair. 

(~eterker ard Radford 1969). 

Pa.xa are characteristj c of the Gafsa mouctaics (~ectioc 4). 

The noxtajr. has beer. a protected area for macy years, bit the 

effectiveress of the protectioc has cot beec recer-tly assessed. Acy 

vegetatioc removal wo~ld affect species compostiocs acd leave the slopes 

s>;sceptible to iccreased erosioc rates. 

3.4.4.2. Djebel Bou Hedma 34'30' !I 9'38' E 

A sshtherc mosctair of special interest is Dj. BOG H~dma. Located 85 

kilometers east of Gafsa acd 45 km west of the coast, the mo~ctaic is ic 

the trarsjtioc zoce betweer certral aed soctherc T~cjsia (pottier- 

Ala?~tite :979). From a smnj t altit>ide of 790 m, the mowtain descerds 

feirly rclpldly (slopes > 25:) to the foothills, which deecer-d nore 

grad-tlly to the s~rroxdjr-g steppes. !,:axe acd ~ypsc~ deposi ts 5r the 

calcercs,~ nassif RTF xeathered to forn the soils of the slopes ar2 base.

A. Vegetation 

A t the sammit of Bou Hedna, additional moistzre from low clouds 

produces ac Arid Superior bioclimate and results ic vegetation groups 

typical of aleppo pice formatiocs (~choenenber~er 1986). Above 600 - 700 

meters, depecdicg on the expositioc, associatiocs 5nclude: 

Rosmaricus officinalis Leuzea conifera 

Globalaria alypum Fumana thymifolia 

Gecista cinerea F. ericoides 

Cistus libacotus Bupleurum gibraltaricum 

Pistacia lectiscus Helianthemum cicereum 

Cectaurea tenuif olia H. virgatum 

Phagcaloc rapestre H. semfglabrum 

Below the s~nmit acd on the foothills is a vegetatior grocp that 

characterizes climax jacjper forests. Degradatioc of the climax forest is 

sigcified by the presecce of esparto grass. 

J~ciper~s phoecicea Pituracthos scoparizs 

Rosmariczs offlcinalis Thymas hirtus 

Globslaria alypsm Sedum sediforme 

Stipa teracissima Teucrium ramosissimam 

Fumaca laevipes Heliacthemum hirtum 

At the base of the mozctaic is a vegetation group associated with 

calcareozs cr~sts ard gypsoas soils, with: 

Astragalas arnatzs Atractylis serratuloides 

Acabasis oropediorum Erodiam hirtum 

Gyrncocarpos decacder Aristada ciliata 

Tetrapogoc villos~s Stipa parviflora 

Heliarthemum kahjrlczm Herneari a fontacesf i 

Coris mocspeliecsi s Moricandia arvecsis 

Rhzs tripartltm Fagocia cretica 

Schoececberger (1986) also described associations foacd at springs 

(inclzdicg the rare Sacchordm raveccae), streams, marshes acd rocky 

faults. A complete plact list for the moartair acd adjacect plaic is 

giver in the pre-pro ject proposal for BOJ Hedma Natiocal park- (~ir. For. 

1980). 

B. Fauna 

Mammals. Boz Hedma has maey mammals endemic to North Africa acd some 

threatened species, such as aoudad, dorcas gazelles, slerder-homed 

gazelles acd sand cat Felis margarita (~ir. For. 1980). Other mammals 

that have beer reported icclzde jackal, genet, brow. hare, desert 

hedgehog, sacd fox Vulpos rupelli, kaffir cat, Saharan striped .weasel 

Poecilictis libyca, acd a variety of rodects and bats:

Rodects : Hystrix cristata 

NA Elephactalus rozeti 

NA Ctecodactylas gundi 

NA Gerbillus campestris 

G. nanus 

WA G. simoci 

G. gerbillus , 

G. pyramidum 

Pachyuromys daprasi 

NA Merioces shawi 

H. crassas 

M. libycus 

Psammomys obesus 

Mus rnasculus 

Rattus rattas 

R . alcxacd ricus 

Jaculas jaculus 

Bats: Rhicolophus mehelyi 

R. euryale 

My~tis blythioxygcathzs 

Eptesicas seroticus isabellicus 

Plecotas austricacas aegypticus 

- 

Crested porcupice 

Elephant Shrew 

Gundi 

Gerbils 

Shaw's jird 

Libyac jird 

Sard rat 

Hosse mosse 

black rat 

palm rat 

Lesser Egyptiac jerboa 

Birds. A great variety of migratory and wictericg birds occur at Dj. 

Bou Hedma acd are listed ic Section 4 (~o~~vercorat of Sidi BOL id). 

Sadectary birds icclude a number of cesticg raptors acd passerice species 

(~ir. For. 1980) such as: 

Short-toed eagle Peregrice Blue rock thrash 

Locg- legged bzzzard Kest re1 Rock dove 

Borellie s eagle Lancer falcoc Mosrcicg wheatear 

Colder eagle Little swift Black wheatear 

Egyptiac v~ltare Crag martin Rock sparrow 

Grazicg has had a stmcg influecce on the species c~mpositix of Boa 

Hedma. The most dwamic grazed species (~choenenberger 1376 ) are: 

Aristada ciliata Periploca laevigata 

A. obtusa Lycium arabiczm 

Cenchrss ciliaris Rhus tripartit~m 

Koricacdia arvensis Acacia raddiaca 

while species like Acabasis oropediorum acd Cymr.ocarpos decacder are so 

severely affected by grazicg that regeceratioc ceases. 

Part of Dj. BO.J Hedrna and the adjacect steppe have beec established as 

a catiocal park. Abo~t 3,660 ha are klly protected ard ar- addi tloral 

12,828 ha are reg~lated as a bsffer zoce (IUCB 1987). A~imal 

reictrod;ctioc acd other park macagemect placs are be5 re implernected 

(~ectio~ 5.4.4).

3.4.5. Douirat !4ouctaics 

Ic southerc Tunisia, alocg the eastern border of the Gracd Erg is a 

long chair of low mo~ctaics acd high plateaus. The Douirat moxtaics are 

orierted K-S ard racge in altitude from 300 - 600 m. Due to the iccreased 

altit~des, the mouctains are slightly cooler and receive more raic than 

the surroacdi~g desert, but the annual precipitatioc fs still only 200 - 

300 mrn. 

Vegetatioc. Plact associations in the northern. part of the Douirat 

mouctaics differ from those of the south ic that the apper slopes from 

Katmata to Dj. Rhar el Jami (NM of ~ataouine) are vegetated by degraded 

Junipens phoenicea garrigues. Juniper is scarce on most of the mozctaics 

ard may soon disappear completely. Other species of the assocjatioc 

(ORSTOE 1962) icclude scattered : 

Ceratocia siliqaa Rhas tripartitam 

Olea earopaea oleaster Periploca laevigata 

Pistacia atlantjca Calycotome villosa 

acd, nore commorly, thermophiles acd calcicoles: 

acd other species, sach as: 

Tescriam polium Phagnalon saxitile 

Rosmaricus officicalis Cistiis libacotis 

Globiilaria alypum Fumaca thymifolia 

Thymus capitatus Gynnocarpos decarder 

T. hirtus Heliacthemum kahiricum 

Coris monspeliecsis H. ruficor~m 

Atractylis serratuloides Stipa parviflora 

Gecista microcephala Herriaria foctacesii 

Or the lower slopes acd on the moxtains to the south, the vegetatioc 

grozps irdicate fbrther degradatioc. The associatior of Arthrophytum 

scoparian acd Artemisia herba-alba, Stipa tecacissima variart also 

cortairs: 

Tetrapogor villosus 

Percisetum elatum 

Hyparrheria hirta 

Farsetia aegyptiaca 

Moricacdia arvecsis 

Ac overexploitation of the esparto grass ard other vegetatioc has 

reszlted in a vegetatioc stage characterized by the abardacce of: 

Gymcocarpos decarder Helianthemirm kahiricun 

Herciaria f r~ticosa A tractylis serratuloides 

Anabasis articulata oropediorum 

This vegetatior stage represects ac irreversible desertificatjor process 

(Le Hoseros 1959 ir ORSTOM 1962). which seems to accelerate xder 

dem~graphic presszre .

- 

Fauna of the Douirat rnouctains icclude gi.di, Eliomys quercycus and 

other rodents, which are preyed upon by jackals, ao3therc fox and a 

variety of raptors. More complete lists are given in Sectioc 4 

(~ouvemorats of Cabes , Wedenine , Tataouine) . 

Influences. Intense pressure from grazicg llvestock and people 

gathering fuelwood and fodder ha8 degraded the Douirat ecosystems to a 

very poor atate. The rnoimtaica are important as a natilral barrier betweer. 

the desertic steppes and Grand Erg to the west and the Jaffare steppe to 

the east. Further degradation will iccrease the risk of desertificatioc 

and duce formatioc ic the steppes, as well as result ic accelerated 

erosior. or. the mountains. Ir: the Matmatas chair., more than 750,000 ha 

have beep treated for erosion control (~ir. For. 1986).

3.5. STEPPES 

The term steppe is often used to describe any large plaic covered by 

low, djscocticuous vegetation. This vague deficitioc results jc areas 

with very differect characteristics beicg called steppes ic various 

couctries or coctinents of the world. To clarify the term ic Tucisia, it 

has beee suggested to label the steppe-liks areas 'predeserts' or 'post- 

forests', which more clearly describes their successiocal stage and 

characterkstics (Le Hoaerou 1969). However, 1c order to remaic consistent 

with other literatare oc Tucisja acd to facilitate groupicg areas of 

similar characteristics, the commoc term 'steppee will be ased in this 

documect with regiocal clarifiers, sach as High Steppe, Low Steppe, and 

Sabdesertic Littoral/~octinectal Steppe. 

The deficitive work oc Tscisia's steppe vegetatioc was doce by Le 

Hosero.; (1969). He described the fosr pricciple vegetatioc structures 

that characterize the 6 to 7 millioc hectares of steppe ic Tacisia: 

- Grass steppe: Steppes of esparto, Lygeam spartum, Atistida sp, etc. 

- Ligross steppe: Steppes of Arteme9j.a herba-alba or Rhartheriun 

ssaveolecs. 

- Halophile steppe: Wide bacds of salt toleract vegetation aroucd the 

chotts (350,000 ha total). 

- Wooded steppe or pseado savaccah: Steppes with scattered trees sach 

as Acacia raddiaca or Pinas halepecsis. 

The gereral regiocal categorizatio~ of steppe ssed ic this documect 

will also jccl~de the followicg more specific vegetatioc types 

disticgsished by Le Foueroa: 

- Pseudo-steppe: Steppes of shrubs or 'scr~b' from 0.5 to 3 m tall, 

iccladicg Retama raetam, Ephedra alata ssp. alecda, Calligon-m 

comossm acd Zizyphas lotus. 

- Prairies: Seaso~al herb formatiocs of species sgch as Festaca 

ar~cdicacea acd Trifolium fragiferum along streams or ic 

depressiocs. 

- Keadows: Seasonal herbaceogs fonnatiocs ic Subhumid or Semi-arid 

Szperior bioclimates (ex. bulbosa, Loliam perexe. 

- Czltivated lands: Iccludicg o r c h a ~ ~ graics , ~ ~ ~ , 

(1,500,000 ha) and fallow groxd. 

As thgs defined, the steppes of Tucisia are those non-moactainous 

areas to the south and east of the Tunisian Dorsal and to the east of the 

Grand Erg (figure 10). lialophile steppe vegetation has beee described ic 

section 3.3.2. The followicg sectiocs will describe the variozs geceral 

steppe regiocs of Tacisia.

Figure 10 

Steppes and Grand Eastern Erg 

of Tunisia 

Gulf of 

C w e r 

High Steppe 

Low Steppe 

Subdesertic 

Littoral 

Steppe 

Subdesertic 

Continental 

Steppe 

Grand Eastern EI

Irfluences. The imp~cts of humar actiocs have had a profoad 

irfluerce or the steppes. ?Y~ch of the steppes of certral TxisSa have 

beer cultivated or exploited for esparto grass, ard almost all of the 

steppe areas are grazed. Overgrazing has beer. estimate8 at 5E more thar 

the sastajnable productior ic certral Turisia acd 25c ir the so~th (Dir. 

For. 1986). This excessive pressure has resulted ir the degradation of 

much prodactive lard ard makes the regiors s~sceptible to desertificatioc. 

Tucisia is ore of the most eroded Mediterraceac courtries and oce of 

those most threatered by desertification (~ir. For. 1985). Kore thar half 

the area of Tmisia is affected by desertjfication (Dir. For. 1977) acd 

over 18,000 ha are lost to the desert each year; half of which is 

agric~lt~ral land. The three factors most resporsable for the rapid 

desertificatior are: decreased forest vegetatior (colonial harvesticg, 

fuelwood collecti or, grazirg) ; red~ctior acd degradatior of grazicg lards 

(lard lost to cultjvatior or overgrazed and lost to the desert); acd 

agricult~ral practices (disc plowira, dry-ferairq methods acd plowjrg 

agairst the contoar or slopes). With desertifjcatior cor.es severe erosior 

ard raicwater rxoff (rather thar percolatior) . the erosio: ard rxoff 

cazse floods, threater conmucities, fill reservoirs, redice s;tterrarcar 

water tables, r;ir farnlacds ard steppe habitats, acd wash o,t roads. 

To combat desertificatior, the Tucisiar govercmect has att~mpted 

several types of projects, iccl~dicg racge naragemect, d,zre fixatior, ard 

soil ard water corservatioc. Soil acd water cocservatiw. prnjects x~ally 

deal with erosioc coctrol, such as terracirg slopes; cocstrzctirg 

embarkmects, low rock walls acd other barriers tc sloyl: rzroff; placticg 

forage, soil-fixirg plarts, livir~ hedges ard wirdbreaks; ard creetirg 

stock pocds to capture rxoff or slopes (Dir. For. 19E5). 

Goverrnert projects for pasture inprovemert, regeceratior of psblic 

grazicg lards, erosioc cortrol ard acti-desertificetioc have met with 

varied levels of saccess. However, corticued pop;latior growth is 

reszlti~g ir iccreasirg pressure or lards decreasirg ir prodzctlvity acd 

additioral protectjor acd irnprovemert neassres are ceeded. 

The flora acd faara of the steppes are especSally sersitive to: 

3.5.1. High Steppe 

Vegetati or removal: 

- Grazicg, esparto grass harvesticg 

Water table macipzlatioc 

Hacting and Poachirg 

- Sspecially urgulates 

The High Steppe is located ro;if;hly betweec the Tzrisjsr. 3orsiil ard 

Borj Kaajer be1 Abbes (rorth of ~afsa) ard to the west of F%krassey ir. a 

regior of high plairs (over 400 m ir eltitsde) divided by several moxtaic 

chei~s (see Sectior 3.4.4). Deep calcere3~s soils are dxirazt IE the 

high steppe, bdt there are macy areas with gypsois, mfir~oss srd s6liEe

soils (ONUPAA 1985). Accual raicfall varies from 100 - 200 mm near Cafsa 

to 200 - 300 mm alocg the Tocisiac Dorsal acd northeast of Cafsa. 

Mountain summits ic the same region receive 300 - 400 mm agcual rainfall. 

Average teperatures vary from 16 C ic the corthwest to 19 C cear Cafsa. 

As a result of the relatively lou precipitatioc acd the temperatzre the 

bioclimate is Arid Superior with a cool winter variact ic the west part 

acd a temperate wicter variant ic the east part of the High Steppe. 

A. Vegetation 

Vegetatioc of the High Steppes was occe domicated by Juciperus 

phoenicea. Now juciper is ocly found or the plateaus acd mouctains, acd 

the plaics are covered by associations of esparto grass. 'Or the heavier 

soils ic the westerc part of the High Steppes the vegetation is dornicated 

by esparto and Artemisia herba alba ic associatioc with (ORSTON 1962, Le 

Hoaeroz 1969) : 

Haloxylon tamariscifolisn Salvi a aegyptj aca 

Acabasis articzlata Plactagc ovata 

Carrichtera aecza Cecta~rea acailis 

Chrysacthemen fL;scatm 

Arthrophytun scopar-im 

Feliacthemx hirtcn rof lcomum 

Oc lighter soils ic the uesterc High Steppe a secocdary steppe of 

esparto acd Artenisia campestris, joiced by rosemary or higher ground, 

domicates. These soils are oftec placted to olives. Associated placts 

icclude: 

Plactago albicacs Karicaria prestrata 

Heliarthemam rcf iconum Herriaria frutj cosa 

H. lippii sessiliflorum Cutacdia divaricata 

Licaria aegyptiaca Anacyclzs cyrtolipidioides 

Cecista uciflora hstragalus crsciatus 

Laucea residifolia 

Ir. the southwest corner of the High Steppe there is a lar~e area 

covered by ax associatior of esparto grass acd: 

Heliacthernum lippii 

Aristida plumose 

Plantago albicacs 

Atractylis serratcloides 

To the east, ic the tracsitioc zone betueec the High Steppe and the 

Low Steppe are associatiocs dominated by scattered jsjube Zizyphus lotus 

acd abucdact Artemisia campestris, with combinations of: 

Eragrostis papposa 

Stipa parviflora (oc sacd) 

S. retorta 

S. lagascae pabescecs " 

Plactago albicacs 

P. ovata 

Cecista uci flora 

Linaria aegyptiaca 

Ifloga spicata 

Fagocia kahirica 

Astragalus crsciatas 

Ocopordoc arecari~m 

Scablosa arecaria 

Arjstida obt~sa 

Atractylis cacd5da 

P. flava citrica

Ic the southeeat, heavier soils result in Artemisia herba alba beicg 

associated with jujube and combinations of esparto grass, Asparagas albas 

and Globalaria alyp'im. Along the edge of the High Steppe, sosth of the 

above associations and extecdin~ icto the Low Steppe is ac association of 

Rhactherim Suaveolens with ~iaithus cricitus and-krtemisia canpestris. 

B. Fauna 

Macy of the animals found ic the mouctaics descecd icto the plairs to 

feed, drick, or as part of a migration pattern. Of special icterest ic 

the High Steppe are threatened houbara bustards, which cest ic the easterc 

part of the regioc, and rare hyecas, which descend fron the mozctaics to 

prey oc wild boar. Common fauna are listed ic Section 4 (Gouvercorats of 

Sidi Boz Zid, Kasserice, Gafsa). 

C. Icflaecces 

A large paper m i l l is located ic Kasserice. Esparto grass fibers are 

processed at the m i l l to produce a high quality paper. Of approximately 

433,000 ha of decse esparto steppes ic Tucisia, most are ir. the High 

Steppe acd more thac half are exploited for the mi 11 (~ir. For. 1986). 

This exploitatior, alocg with overgrazicg acd clearicg for agric;lt"re is 

having serious impacts oc the cataral vegetatioc of the regioc. Of the 

124,000 ha of esparto steppe in the Sidi BO.G Zid Gozvercorat, ocly ore 

third is cocsidered decse or moderately dense, acother third is sparse acd 

the fical third is degraded (erosioc, fires, cultivatioc). The Forestry 

Directorate has implemected regulatiocs to protect the steppes fr3s 

overharvesticg, but overgrazicg and cultivatioc are problems nwh nore 

difficult to coctrol. The paper plact also uses large qzactities of water 

from the Osed Derb acd releases vario2s chemical compovcds ic its 

discharge. 

3.5.2. Low Steppe 

East of the High Steppe, north of Sebkhet Mecheqzig~e acd sovth of 

Ecfida, a vast flat to gectly ucdulaticg plaic extecds to the coast. 

Throzgh~zt the Low Steppe, the altitade is less thac 250 m. Rscoff from 

the High Steppe flows ic several temporary rivers acd settles ir the macy 

depressiocs ic the Low Steppe, creaticg sebkhets (~ectioc 3.3.2). Shallow 

soils form or. calcareous crusts throzgh much of the region, ard ic areas 

of higher precipitatioc, red Hedjterraceac soils form on hard limestone 

(ONUPAA 1 985 ) . 

Most of the Low Steppe receives 200 - 300 nun accual raicfall, bzt the 

area soath of Sfax receives less thac 200 mm. Average temperatares of the 

0 

regioc are cear 19 C. Bioclimates vary from Semi-arid Icferior cear the 

coast to Arid Inferior southwest of 51 Djem. Eost of the iclacd portion 

of the Lox Steppe has ac Arid Saperior bioclimate ( ~ Hozeroz e 1966).

A. Vegetation 

Ic the Arid Superior inlacd regioc, the dominant vegetatioc type is 

the j;; jube, Artemisia campestris, Eragrostis papposa associatioc found ir. 

the easterc High Steppe. Associatiocs of jujsbe, Artemisia herba alba and 

Aspara-s albas, acd of Rhantherium suaveolens also extend from the High 

Steppe along the southeastern edge of the Arid Superior zone of the Low 

Steppe. 

The alluvial plaics rear Kairouan have fine textured mils that ere 

often inucdated and are vegetated to ( ~ e 

Houerou 1969): 

Beta macrocarpa 

Scolymzs maculatus 

Silybum eburneum 

Aroucd the sebkhets, almg salice watersheds acd ic a large area 

sxrroucdicg Kairosar., the primary vegetatioc type is the halophile 

associatioc described ir. Sectioc 3.3.2. Gypsous soils to the northwest, 

~02th ard sostheast of Sebkhet Sidi el Haci are vegetated to the Cynara 

card~cculus, Lygeum spart~m, Cycodoc dactyloc groap. Alocg the coast, 

from Ecfida to Sozss~, the vegetatioc of the Seni-arid Icferior. (mild 

wicter variact) bioclimate is domicated by: 

Artemisia herba alba Arisa rum v~lgare 

Stipa parviflora Lavacdula multifida 

Zizyphzs lot2s Phlomis floccosa 

Heliarthemam 11 ppii Echiochiloc fnticosam 

I!. racemossn Lygeum spartun 

Atractylis serratsloides 

Soath of Sozsse, the ab3ve vegetatioc is joined by variacts indicated by 

Solacsin sodosaearn or Cycodoc dactyloc acd Artenisia herba alba, which are 

icterspersed w:th areas of alluvial plaics. 

The Arid Szperior regioc alocg the coast south of El Djem is vegetated 

to variozs associatiocs of krtemisia, iccludicg: 

Artemisia herbz alba Globularia alypzm 

A. canpestris Diacthus cricitss 

Zizyphzs lotus Rhantherism suaveolens 

Eragrostis papposa Atractylis serratul~ides 

Asparagzs albus 

or, re&r Sebkhet El Djen acd the coast: 

Trigocella acguica 

Lyge.;m spartun 

Solacam sod~maeam 

The faxe of the Lox Steppe is similar to that of the High Steppe acd 

is listed ic Sectlor. 4 (~ozverr-orats of Kairosac, Sousse, Sfax). Of 

special icterest are threateced hozbara b~stards, which rest rear 

Kair-c;ac.

C. Influecces 

Nost of the inland area of the Low Steppe is cultivated acd the 

coastal areas are cultivated acd plarted to olives. Therefore, the 

largest area of uncultivated habitat is composed of the sebkhets acd zones 

with saline soils. Crazing is heavy throughoat the regioc acd poaching of 

brow. hare acd barbary partridge is commor. 

3.5.3. Sabdesertic Littoral Steppe 

South of the Low Steppe, the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe extecds 

inlacd almost to Cafsa, thec carrows soath of Sebkhet ec Nosal to the area 

betweec Sebkhet el Hamna and the coast acd extecds south to Tataozine. A t 

Tataouice, the border of the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe curves corth acd 

thec sostheast to the Libyar border. A s with the Low Steppe, the altitude 

of the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe is less thac 250 n; highest cear the 

High Steppe aKd Douirat moixtaics acd lowest rear the coest. Slibstrates 

are linestore overlair by calcareozs, gypsous acd sacdy soils. 

Average accsal precipitatioc i6 the rggioc is from 100 to 200 mm and 

average accsal tenperat~res are 19 to 20 C. Wiclmum wixtsr temperatares 

9 0 

average 6 C ard maximsm samrner temperatures average 35 C. The 

bioclimate of the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe is Arjd Irferior, mild 

wirter varlact. 

A. Vegetatix 

Although the locgitudical acd latitudjral rarge of the Ssbdesertic 

Littoral Steppe is large, the Mediterraceac sea moderates the climate acd 

the primary factor icfluencicg the vegetatior- appears to be the iclacd 

extecsioc. Coastal vegetatiox types have beer described ir Sectior 3.1.4. 

Ar, icterestirg associatior that grows or uplards alocg the coast solith of 

Kceiss is that of Zygophyllum alb~m acd ~narrhirun brevifoli~n. Near the 

coast a varjact to Orocis catrix ssp. falcata is oftec foxd. The 

associatior also extecds from ar area irland of Kceiss ic a bard to the 

corth of the Chotts that passes throilgh Cafsa. A s the Zygophylllim- 

Acarrhicun associatiox extecds iclacd, a variart to Moricardla arvecsis 

appears. 

Most of the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe is vegetated by associatiocs 

characterized by combiratiocs of: 

with s ~ associatiocs b 

of 

Rhactherim saaveolecs (300,000 ha total 

acd Artemisia campestris ir ~ucisia) 

Atrac tylls serrat;loides o I' Lyge~r spartzn

2 Pitaracthos tortuosus 

and Haplophyllum vermiculaire 

with a sub associatior. of 

Erodiam glaucophyllum 

3 1 Artemisia herba alba (350.000 ha) 

and Arthrophytum scoparium 

with sub associations of 

Gymnocarpos decander and Stipa tenacissima 

or Erodium glaucophyllum 

Xorth of Gabes is the additiocal associati or. of: 


Lygeum sparturn 

acd Pteracthus dichotomas 

Sxth of Gabes, three other additiocal associatiocs appear: 

1 > Rhactherium suaveolens (250,000 ha) 

Asphodelis refractus 

acd Atractylis serratuloides 

Aristida pungens 

acd Scrofularia saharae 


ard Retama raetam 

West of Sebkhet Hacsoar, toward Gafsa, the previous associations are 

replace2 by associatiocs characterized by: 

with variaxts to 

Arthrophyt~m schmittianum (-50,000 ha) 

ard Thymelaea microphylla 

Artemisia campestris and Diplotaxus harra 

Hedysar"m carnosum 

Peganum harmala 

Aaabasis aphylla 

Suaeda vermicalata

A t the base of Djebel Bou Hedma, the vegetation in the so~therc part of 

the steppe area of the catiocal park (Section 5.4.4) is represected by a . 

psammophyte grocp. Species ic the group (~choecenberger 1986) icclude: 

Rhactheriam ssaveolens Certaurea dimorpha 

krthrophy turn schmittiaram Argyrolobium uriflorun 

Echiochiloc fruticosum Silece arena rioides 

Artemesia canpestris Catacche arenaria 

Marrubi~m deserti Salsola vemj calata 

Polygocsm equisetiforme Chrysanthemum trifurcatum 

Nolletia chrysocomoides Farsetia aegyptiaca 

Eragrostis papposa Erassica tourcefortii 

Dacthocia forskahlii Ast ragalas capricus 

Stipa tegascae A. hamosus 

Aristida plumosa Ifloga spicata 

A. purgers Piturarthos tortuosus 

Eeliarthernzm lippj sessiflor~m 

There 5s also a varjart at 33: Hed~a characterized by limorophgtes. 

Cereal crzps are plarted ir these areas. Ir dry years the soil is almost 

bare sirce P.rthr.o~hytin sco~arj~rn acd Pegarzm hamala are oftec the only 

pererc:~ls. Other species icclade: 


Salvia aegyptiaca 

Diplotaxss harra 

Er;ca voscaria 

Vella arcsa 

Cladacth;~ arabicus 

kj"ga iva 

Kedj cago tr;rcat"la 

Trj gorella polycerata 

Limocium bocdselli 

Locchophora capiomo~tana 

Vicj a mortana 

Asteriscas pygmaeus 

Erarthrocarpss clavatas 

Yalva parviflora 

Arnberboa lippi i 

Reseda decursiva 

Stipa retorta 

Schoererberger (1996) also listed varia~ts that appear or salty, 

gypsoss ard wet soils. Of special irterest is a pse~do-savacca of Acacia 

raddieca that appears in some of the above associatiocs. Ir the past, the 

ertjro regior was covered by savarca (see Sectior 2.3, ~lora). iiow there 

are ocly c.10 ha left that are donjrated by Acacia raddiaca acd some 

scattered trees ir the Bled Talha regior. The climax acacia psesdosavanca 

is typically accornpacied by: 

Pistac:a atlartica Zizyphus lotus 

Ph~s tri partitarn Periploca laevigata 

Lavacdsla maltifj da 

L. cororopi f olia 

Lyciam sp. 

The largest mammals of the nost of the Ssbdesertic Littoral Steppe are 

jackals ard fox. IT. soze regjor.s, s;ch as Br?; lted~a, dorcas gazelles and 

slecder-horced eazelles also occ~r. Brow. hare are connoc, as well as a 

variety of rodorts, 1rcl;dirg ?15oin~~~s q;ercyc~s ar.d the ltorth Africac

endemic Shew's jird. Nacy species of raptors hunt ic the region, and the 

threateced houbara bsstard is reported to nest there. Other species 

commoc to the Sabdesertic Littoral Steppe are listed i~ Sectioc 4 

(~osvercorats of Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Gafsa, Cabes, acd ~edicice). 

C. Icf luences 

Forage production is fairly high ic associations of Rhantherium 

suaveo1er.s acd Artemisia (200 Forage ~nits/ha'), Rhactherium and 

As hodelis refractus Arthro h tum schmittiacam (180 

t they are - e x ' 

(Le Houerou and Pronect 

1966). Ic the korth part of the regioc, much of the steppe is cultivated, 

some of whjch is placted to olives. Cultivation by tractors with discs is 

a major caiise of erosion in the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe. Ravices and 

sar.dy soil are oftec plowed, resulting ir accelerated gally acd dace 

fomatioc. With the impacts of overgrazirg added to poar farmicg 

practices, macy areas are ic dacger of desertificatioc. 

To coctrol desertificati~c ic degraded areas, windbreaks, soil 

stebilizetioc plactjcgs and watershed macagemeet practices have beec 

implemected. Kacy of these areas are showicg favorable results, bzt 

problens with species selectioc aad plantatioc survival have reduced 

sxcess ic other locatiocs. 

Poachicg of hare and partridge is a common practice. Understaffed and 

icad;q;ately oq2ipped ecforcemect agects are only able to reduce the level 

of poachicg; they are by no meacs able to stop it. Habitat degradatioc 

combiced with heavy hucticg pressure (legal and illegal) are severely 

affecti~g the biological diversity of this region. The regioc has 

potectial for a variety of plant associatiocs acd animal species 

(gazelles, addax, oryx acd ostrich formerly occurred), bat it is very 

secsitive to irfluecces that remove vegetatioc, increase erosion or 

excessively decrease wildlife popzlatiocs. 

3.5.4. Subdesertic Coctirectal Steppe: Gafsa, Jerid, Dahar 

Sozth of the three previously described steppes, the Subdesertic 

Cocticectal Steppe extecds south and west to the edge of the Sahara (Gracd 

Easterc ~rg). In this documect, the region north of the chotts is called 

the Gafsa plaics, soath of Chott el Charsa is Jerid and the remaicder of 

the sostheasterc Subdesertic Coctinental Steppe is the Dahar plain (which 

a l s ~ iccludes part of the Jaffara regioc). In the Subdesertic Conticectal 

Steppe, limestone substrates are overlain by sacdy calcareous soils with 

macy gypsoas locations. 

Uclike the Sabdesertic Littoral Steppe, the Subdesertic Cocticectal 

Steppe does cot becefit greatly from the Mediterraneaa sea acd only 180 - 

200 mr: raic falls acczally. Temperatures are very high, avoragicg 19 to 

0 0 

20' C. E.verage smwr maximi;ms are rear 00 C, with extremes over 50 C. 

0 

Average winter micin~ms are 3-5 C. Along the north acd east edge of the 

Szbdesertfc Littoral Steppe the bioclinate is Arid Inferior, with cool 

(corth: acd temperate (east) wicter variants. East of Tataouice, Rernada 

acd Deklbat to the Ljbyac border, the bioclimate is Saharac Sr;perior, 

tenperzte wir.ter variact. The rest of the Subdesertic Cocticectal Steppe 

(soit~~west prri or) is Saharac Szperior, cool winter variant.

A. Vegetation 

Vegetatioc associations in the Cafsa plakcs are similar to those 

described for the part of the Subdesertic Littoral Steppe near Cafsa. 

More salice soils are indicated by the presence of Salsola vermiculata 

var. villosa and other halophytes. There are also variacts to Lircaria 

fallax, Chrysanthem~m fuscatum and esparto grass of the association of: 


Arthrophytum scopariurn 

Cymcocarpos decander 

Near Tozeur the vegetation associatiocs are sparser and characteristic 

of Saharac bioclimates. An association of 

with szb associations to 

Brocchia cicerea 

Cornulacea mocacactha 

Cyperus cocgloneratas 

Astragalus armatus tragacanthoides 

ar.d Aristida pucgecs 

domirates rear Tozeur. To the south acd across a large region on the 

soath side of Chott Djerid, there is ac associatioc of 

Retama raetam 

Arthrophyturn schnittiacum var schmittianum 

acd Suaeda vermiculata 

Eetueec the moactaic racge parallel to the cortherc edge of Chott Djerid 

acd Djebel Tabaga is an associatioc of 

Tragansm cudatum var. obtusatun 

acd Anabasis articulata var. articulata 

At the corthuest corner of the Dahar, alocg the east edge of the 

Retama, Arthrophytum, S~aeda associatioc described ab~ve, are Tamarix 

stands oe coc salice soils and parcels vegetated to: 

Calligoc~m comosum 

and Anthyllis sericea ssp. henoniana 

which also occur soatheast of Tataouine. Along Djebel Tabaga acd 

soatheast of Tataouice are areas characterized by: 

1 > Rhac theriam suaveolecs 

acd Asphodelis refractus 

vj th vzriacts to 

Savigcy parviflora and Acthyllis serj cea herociaca

Stipa tecacissima 

)?or5 cacdi a arvecsis 

Zygophyllm album 

Acarrhiccm brevj foljnm 

(450,000 ha) 

The riajori ty of the Dahar (2,103,000 ha) is vegetated to ac associatioc 

icdicated by: 

with s:ib associati~cs to 

Acthyllis serjcea ssp hecocia 

acd Cyncocarpos decacder 

Stipc lagascae Stipe tecacj ssima 

or Heliarthenum lj ppS i ictricatum 

There are slso sone areas with halophjle assDciatiocs (~ectioc 3.3.2) acd 

assoclatiors of 

Arthrophytsm schmi tti.acum 

Retarria raetan 

arc? Calligocsm comoscn 

or S.;aeda vermicclata 

Ic the cer-ter of the Dahar ard or the west edge, formicg the 

tracst t: oz zor.e s: tk the Sahara is 

krthrophytzm schnitt.iacm var. prostratcm 

ar.2 A. scopail in var. sccpariun 

Fazca sf the Slbdesertic Cocticectal Steppe are listed ic Sectjoc G 

(Goiver~orats of Gafsa, Toze~r , Kebili, J~?edirjce, ~atao-ice). Of special 

icterpst are slecder-horced gazelles, dorcas gazelles, kaffir cat acd 

threatere? hozbzra b~sttirds. 

Icflcecces oc the ecosystem icclcde overgrazing and clearicg 

vegetatioc for c~ltivatior- of graics acd orchards. Desertificatioc acd 

duce fornatior. 5s a serioss problem acd some remedial actiocs are beicg 

takec ( plactatiocs, watershed coctrol structures, terracing, eccouragemect 

of coctocr plouicg). A cational park/biosphere reserve has beec proposed 

for the easterc part of the regi~c, near Hamada, Djebel Toci acd the 

Libyar- border (see Sectioc 5.4.7). 

There is a ccrrect project atterpticg to establish a 'greec belt' of 

orchards ar.d cee oases aroncd Chott Jerjd. Over 295,000 ha h~ve already 

beer. eff~ct~c! by this program, whjch co~la prodcce very favorable resclts 

by slswir.,~ the rats of des~rijfjcatioc acd provi.dir.g some fauca habitat 

(ss~eciel::: for birds). There is a darger, however, that the messive 

o~ar.tlTles If irrj~at59r. water ~sed ic this program ccrild cacse xexpected 

resp2ses Ir the mt~r tables. (ex. d~ssicatior of djstart oases).

.3.6. GRAND EASTERN ERG: SAHARA 

Alocg the southwest edge of Tunisia is part of the vast desert kcowr. 

as the Grand Eastern Erg, or the Sahara (figare 10). Little raic falls ic 

the regior; the average annual precipitation is 50 - 100 mm at the 

northen; edge and ocly 20 - 50 mm for the rest. M~ny years can pass with 

no raic at all. Average tefperatures are above 21 C, with summer 

maximums averagicg above 40 C and winter minimums averaging below 3 C. 

Hot dry Sirocco winds sweep over the land for many days at a time in the 

summer. The harsh climate has lead to the formatioc of vast areas of 

large sacd duces, which cover the Grand Easterc Erg. 

The erg is secsitive to: 

- Chacges ir. raicfall patterns 

- Vegetation removal 

- Harvesticg of rare species of faaca - especially ucgulates 

Ic such a forbiddicg area, the anmet of vegetatioc that does exist is 

surprisicg. Betweec and oc the dunes is a pseudo-forest association of 

There are from 1 to 10 "trees" per hectare, acd many are 8-10 

Houeroa 1969, ORSTOM 1962). Species characteristic of the 

associatior. are: 

Calligocum arich 

C. azel 

C. comoszm 

rNA Gecista saharae 

Aristida pucgecs 

Ephedra alata alenda 

Corr.ulaca mocacactha 

Retama raetam 

There are over 1,720,000 ha of duces with the above association. Oc 

the easterc edge of the southern tip of Tunisia, there are ac additiocal 

760,000 ha with associatiocs of: 

1 1 Tragacam nudatum microphyllum 

Salsola vermiculata 

with a variact to 

Arthrophy tum scopariam 

acd a sub association to 

Acabasis articulata ascecdecs 

Heliacthemum cocfertum brachypodum 

Calligocum comosam 

Acvillea radiata 

Actirrhicum ramosissimum

E. Faana 

Slender-horned gazelles inhabit the north and east edges of the 

regioc; gucdi live ic the higher zones and a variety of rodents, reptiles 

and icsects can be foucd. Nany species of birds are adapted to the desert 

conditiocs and others rest there durkng migration. 

C. Inflaecces 

Human icfluences in the regioc are mostly limited to grazicg by herds 

of camels and the use of Calligonum for fuelwood. While the annual forage 

production is only 2 Forage Ucits per hectare (compared to 200 FU/ha in 

the Rhantherium and Artemisia cam~estris steppes) overgrazing problems are 

much less thar. in the steppes 7-u and Fromect 1966). However, the 

advacce of the desert icto the adjacent regiocs is a serious problem 

facicg Turisia.

3.7. OASES 

There are abait 60,000,000 nillior. n3 of water ir. the underground 

reservoirs of the Sahara (pallas 1972). Ic places where some of that 

water rises to the swface, oases are formed. Oases also occur along 

stream ard spricgs Lorth of the Sahara proper. Oases vary ic size from 

less thar oce hectare to well over oce thousacd hectares. The larger 

oases are c.;ltivated ictecsively ard are the locatiocs of the major cities 

of the sosth: Sfax, Gabes, Eahares, Cafsa, Tozeur, Nefta, Douz, etc. 

There are well over 75,000 ha of oases ir. Tunisia, most of which are 

subjected ta sone for% of ccltivatioc acd over half of which are 

irtecsively ~naraged. Sone oases have beer. artificially created or 

expacded. 

Oases are secsi t,ive to : 

- Yater table nacip~latior 

- Stresm fl07:~ icterr3~ptioc 

- "emoval 3f paln trees 

- Capt~re of mlgraticg birds 

I~terslve c~ltivatioc rakes it. diffic~lt to deternire the cative 

vegetatlor ass5ciatiors of the oases. A p1ar.t species associated with 

most oeses is the ratcralized date palm Phoerix dactylifera. Among the 

date pahs ir. the iclacd oases rorth of Kebili acd alorg the coast to 

Zarzis ( iccl.;dir-g the i slacd of ~erba) the vegetatlor is commocly 

characterized by: 

1:alva parviflora 

Aizooc hisparl cum 

Pegarcn harmala 

The oases at ard near Cabes also c~ctaf~ the rare shrnb Prosopis 

stepharjaria (O~S'?O:? : 962). Dile to the ictense cultivatior, the other 

plarts associated with oases are usually crop weeds, but there are also 

fercs, scch as bdlactcm capillis vereris acd 

Grasses: 

Par.] cm repecs 

Cyperaceaes: 

Carex extersa 

Cyper~s laevigatcs 

Ic a~balr.~ the irrigatior c&ca?s grox aquati c plarts, icclzdi cg: 

- 

~stizcget5r ~odosis XarS chella palustris 

F. pecticet:;~ fn .yph~ ac~iistl f oli a 

r P. dezs~s (~afss) 

r F. 1;;cer.s 

E~ppia marltima

Near Kebili, oases occur caturally or have been created in areas 

previozsly vegetated by the association of: 

B. Faiica 

Retama raetam 

Arthrophytum schmittiacum var. schmittianum 

Suaeda vermiculata 

Mammals foznd ic the oases reflect the presence of ictersive 

cultivatioc and humac disturbarce. Rattus rattus and macy other small 

rodects (gerbils, mice, etc.) occur, but the ocly large mammals are wild 

boars, which occasiocally damage crops. Predators, such as jackals, fox 

acd wild csts sometimes vectsre into the oases, but they are very 

secretive ecd oftec ocly remajc for a short period of time. 

Cases I s provide 6c excellect resticg for a variety of migraticg birds 

acd nzcy seiectzry species rest at the oases or ecter to feed and drick. 

Fish occ;r ratir~lly, acd have beec ictroduced, ir macy ~f the oases. The 

types of f:sh ir.cl.~de: 

Aphaczs 

9arS;s acticorii 

Eezichrornis 

Gambusi a 

Astatotilapia 

Ti lapia (~arotherodoc) 

ks previously mectioced, the primary humar. icfluecce or oasis 

ecosy stens is i ctecsive czl tivatioc acd irrigatioc. Wells drj lled to 

irrigtite rev croplards have reduced water flows ic some areas ard resulted 

ic the aessicatioc or depradatior of some oases. Duricg the spring, 

migratirg birds are oftec captured with snares ic the oases (~r~mmet 

19~7). 

!'lacy oases are threateced by the effects of desertifi catjoc. Wicd 

blowr. sacd can be trapped by the palm trees acd moving dunes cac cover an 

oasis destroyicg the ecosystem. The Forestry Directorate has implemented 

protectioc measures at more than 50 oases, including planticg 1,700 ha of 

wicdbreaks to protect some of the more economically importact acd 

ichabited areas.

4. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DATA BY GOUVERNORAT 

Tucisia is divided into 21 governmental units, or gouverrorats. Ic 

this section, summaries are given of the major ecosystems; specific sites, 

flora and fauna of icterest; and factors influencing biological divers3ty 

in each gouvercorat. Specific sites are cross referenced to sections 

where more detailed informatio~ can be found. The headings 'Medicinal 

Placts' acd 'Genetic Resource Placts' refer to Sectfoc 2.3.1. 

The lists given are not complete, and sometimes the relative lecgths 

may correspocd more to rescarch and reporticg intensity thac to 

comparative differecces ic bi.olog5cal diversity betweec gouvercorats. The 

summaries are irtecded to give baselice data ard highlight ecvirocmectal 

coccErcs, which car be used in preparicg Ecvironmectal Assessmects for 

projects targeted ic the various gouvernorats. The summaries are also 

intended to facilitate the selectioc of priority areas for species or 

ecosystez specific cocservation projects. 

The goJvercorats are presented ir. the following arder: 

BEJA 

JERDOUSA 

LE KEF 

SILIANA 

EI ZERTE 

KABEUL 

TUNIS 

ZAGHOUP.!J 

KAIROUAK 

KASSERIKE 

SIDI BOU ZID 

KAHDI A 

1,IONASTIR 

SOUSSS 

SFAX 

GABES 

CAFSA 

KEBILI 

KEDENINE 

TfiTAOUI1:E 

POZEUT?

Area: 355,000 ha 

A. BEJA 

Major Ecosystems: ~roumirie/Eogbd Mouctaics 

High Tell 

Coral Coast 

Island 

Med jerda Valley 

Specific Sites 1mportar.t to Biologjcal Diversity: 

Belif Forest: 15,000 ha cork oak forest (~ectioc 3.4.1~) 

Andoac Forest: 5,800 ha cork oak forest, corth of Beja 

Coral Coast: Sectioc 3.1.1 

Galite Archipelago acd Reserve: 700 ha (~ectioc 3.2.1 ) 

!hi bes Reserve : Sectj or. 5. A . 10 

Lake Chitace: Sectioc 3.3.4.1 

Sidi Salen Eeservoir: 4,600 ha (~ectior. 3.3.:~) 

Kasseb !Ian Reservoir: 400 hz 

Flore : 

I;et;ral Forest: 33,455 ha 

Cork oak forest - Sectior 3.4.1n 

Placted forest - 27,WO ha (505 maceged forest) 

bleppo pice, plgcoc pice, maritime pice, eacalyptus 

?iaq;is: 36,500 ha 

Coastal maq;is 

Olea-lectisc~s (~ectioc 3.4.2) 

(~~ctioc 3.1 .I ) 

Degraded cork oak/aleppo pice forest (section 3.4. ID) 

Forest Clearices: 1,760 ha 

Csltivatrd Plaic: 23C,000 ha 

Rare acd Ecdezlc Placts: 

v kltercacthera sess i :is rlJA Li cum corynbifer~m lambesacum 

Cyclamec af r' ,caczr? 

?A Gecista ulcica 

Teacrian psezdo-scorodoc5a " Brassica cretica atlactica 

T. radicacs " Reseda duriaeca 

Liceria flava " Ramex aristidis 

L. pimifolia T R. turetac~s 

Ococis mitissima rTA Maresia malcolmoides 

Corocilla atlactica TA Silece scabride 

Nymphea alba 

TA S. tucetaca 

Lathyrus cissoli a r S. ceelecte 

v = Very Rare RA = North Africa Ecdemic 

r = Rare TA = Tucisia/~lgeri a Endemic 

T = Tucisia Bcdemic 

Ketlclcal Plaxts: 

Cacpsr: s sp:rosa (:rcorn~5r) Lavacdzla nsltifida 

Yyrt;s ccrmrr.s.i s Asphodeli s mi crocarpa 

Rosmariczs of fl ci cali s Erica sp. 

Flstacia lertiscis

- 

Cecetic Resource Placts: 

Ceratocia siliqua LLibstus mx?do 

Olea earopaea oleaster Crateegila azamlaaa 

Quercas ilex 3ubs Wferia 

Q. suber Hedysarirm 

Fauca : 

Mammals: 

Wild boar 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Egyptiar mxgoose 


3i rds: 

Great crested Grebe 

Grey hereor. 

mite stork 

Black kite 

hzzard 

Lorg- legged bazzard 

Karsh harrier 

Kestrel 

Q;ail 


Coot 

Yoorher. 

Pirtail 


\loodcock 

Slecder-billed gull 


Spotless starlicg 

Raver. 

Aock d m 

Ybod pigem 

fah ~DvF? 

TLartle duw? 

Sidft 

3ee eater 

Creer mdperker 

3*d 

Great grey shrik. 

Yoodcfiat shrike 

Sardirian mrbler 


Sp~tted flycatcher 

Alack-eared wheatear 

glackbfrd 

Nigfitingah 

Great tit 

G~ldf ir-cfi 

Chaffi~cb 

Ir,fluerces: Kyrtus commucis harvestizg 

Cork harvesticg 

Caltivatioc, grazicg 

3 Fauca Reserves 

D2r.e Stabilizetior. - 20 km Littoral Cordon, 3,470 fia M e d 

Prairie Creatior. - 613 ha

Rajm "Lcosyst~: Krwzirie Y&rtaim 

High Tell 

Coral Coast 

Wdjen3a Valley 

SpecFfic Sites Importatt to Biological Diversity: 

3l Feidja: Oak fowst, Faum reserve, Sectior. 3.4.1.1 

fir. Drahm: Oak fbrest (~ertlor: 3.4.1.2) 

Aiz BBccouCtl Reserve: 3arbary deer 

Dar Fatme Bogs 3 ha, (~ectior: 3.3.4.5) 

Plaritime Pine Torest: Sectin: 3.4.1 

fleserwirs: 3 3 ~ ~ 35tir; 5 Hamnsm Snurgziba; Bm h'uertma 

Flora : 

1iat;rel Forest: 

Cork oak - 47,379 ba 

&r./Cork oak - 33,633 ha 

xaritime piz* - 5,500 ha 

deppo pire - 9,509 ha 

Plaxted Porest: 2,033 ha 

Alepp~ ?ire, ~TIPss, e-jptos, acacia 

hq~is: 16,923 ha 

Olca-ln.tisc;s - Srctjor: 3.L.2 

Degradcd c3rk ~ak/alepr, pjre forest 3.r. I? 

Coastal maqiais - Zectior 3.2.1 

Czltioated: 145.000 fie 

Rare ard Frdemic Plarts: 

v Barbarea vdgaris 

Cardamire graeca 

k jaga rqtacs 

Cyclamu: afriramm 

Teccrlm atratin 

AraMs pbescers 

Vlcia digperme 

Acer mmspessularsm 

Medicago arabica 

1. hispida rnicrodor. 

TI. fdspida bra~yacarrtha 

Yicia bithTica major 

1'. altissima 

V. sic& 

Lathyrns eger 

Cerar.ii;m col;;mbiu;m 

Allaria of fici calis 

Saljx p;;rpsrea 

Ces tarea sazzva 

Spergila arversf s 

Cerastim ceesptosm 

?;maria bi cdor 

Teesdalia cnroropif~lia 

Stellaxia hcllostes 

r 

r 

r 

r 

r 

r 

r 

r 

r 

f 

T 

rT 

TL. 

n. 

J r. 

'?A 

!?A 

?A 

'?A 

Tt~bias incacescecs 

Pbtectilla nicractha 

Rosa eallica 

Ococis mitissima 

0. alepecaroides 

Luzala canpestris 

Sacic~la europaea 

Lotas dreparocarpus 

L. creticus cornmutatus 

Trif olium striatum 

Marrubium aschersocii 

Lathy rus brachyodus 

r3A Querczs afares 

r?! A Erodium pachy rrhiz~rn 

rKA Ceam srbacum 

!I A Hedicag~ sativa eu-sativa 

'7 A Gecista ilcica 

Sedsn taberosm 

Kelj lot~s nacrocerpa 

Runex arlstidjs 

Sj 1er.e scabrida 

Le~idi,~ glestif ~lisn 

Xsc~tella raphcifolia

Medicical Placts: 

Asphodelis cerasi ferus 

A. microcarpus 

Myrtus commur5s 

Genetic Resource Plants: 

Rubus ulmifolius 

Arbutus ucedo 

Olea europaea oleaster 

Hedysarum corocarium 

Facra : 

Mammals: 

t Barbary deer 

Wild boar 

t Hyeca 

Jackal 

Red fox 

r Caracal 

Kaffir cat 

Birds: 

Irfluences : 

Grey heror. 

Aratidae 

Sooted eagle 

Colder eagle 

r Red Kite 

Buzzard 

c Sparrowhawk 


Kestrel 

Coot 


Sardgrouse 

Little ricged plover 

Commor sacdpiper 

Woodcock 

Wood pigeon 

Turtle dove 

Cuckoo 

Eagle owl 

Long-eared owl 

Jecdouba (continued) 

Eyrt~s comnucis acd cork 

Limited tree ciitticg 

Fmaria officicalis 

Pi stacia lentiscss 

Rosmaricus of ficiralis 

Crataegus mocogyra 

C. azarolus 

Quercus ilex 

Q. suber 

r Otter 

Egyptiac mocgoose 

Algeriac hedgehog 

Commo~ geret 

Rrowr ha re 

Crested porczpine 

Field mouse 

Bee eater 

Hoopoe 

Greer woodpecker 

Great spotted woodpecker 

Galerid larks 

Melodioss warbler 

Blackcap 

Sardiciac warbler 

r Firecrest 


Blackbird 

Robi r! 

Coal tit 

Great tit 

Wrer 

Chafflcch 

Jay 

Ravec 

Bare owl 

harvesticg 

Firebreak creatioc acd maintecacce 

Cultivatioc, qrazicg, f-;elwood ard fodder collectior 

Fires 

3 Reserves: El Peidja, Ain Raccoiich, Dar Fataa (possibly) 

v = Very Rare IiA = North Africa Erdemic 

r = Rare TA = Tucisia/Algeria Erdemcc 

t = Threateced T = Tsrisis FrdenSc 

r = Gestirg nirds

Area: 455,000 ha 

C. LE KEF 

Ka jor ~cos~stems: High Tell 


Specific Sites Importact to Biological Diversity: 

Ouergha Forest : Holm oak/aleppo pice, Sec tioc 3.4.2 

Oued Mellegae Reservoir: 1,000 ha, Section 3.3.3A 

Flora : 

Kattiral Forest: 86,107 ha 

Aleppo pice, holm aak 

??acted Forest: 

Aleppo pice, cypress, 

!:aq;;f s : 

@lea-lectiscx 

Degraded aleppo pice, 

J~ciper 

C~ltivated: 270,000 ha 

Rere ecd Ecdemic Placts: 

r kffocia tecuifolia 

I. Iocopsidi~m a?bi flor~m 

r Silece cocica 

A S. atlactica 

Tk S. tacetana 

!!edicical Placts: 

Pistacia lectisctis 

Rosnaricx of ficicalis 

Gecetic Resource Placts: 

Ceratoria si liqua 

Olea eEropaea oleaster 

Crataegus azarolcs 

Fauna : 

Nammals : 

Wild boar 

t Hyeca 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Kaffir cat 

Conmor. gecet 

Ygyptiac mocgoose 

eacalyptas, acacia 

holm oak forest 

rT Trifolium squarrosum tunetaca 

TA Oreoblitoc thesioides 

TA Rupj capcos numidicss 

ssp. sarcocapcoides 

Erica scoparia 

Clobclaria alypm 

Quercus ilex 

Hedysarum corocarium 

A1geri.a~ hedgehog 

Browc hare 


NA Shew's jird 

KA ~erbillus campestris (gerbil) 

Jacalss oriectalis (jerboa)

Birds: 

Le Kef (~orticsed ) 

t White stork 

Teal 

Earopear wigeoc 

Mallard 

t Red kite 

Black kite 

Colder eagle 

Rooted eagle 

Buzzard 

Kestrel 

Q~ail 

Sarbarg partridge 

Coot 

Stoce curlew 

Eltick-bell] ed sardgro~se 

Irflserces : ;Niir,ox. rosemary harvestirg 

Grazicg, cultivatioc 

Dams 

Wood pigeoc 

Rock dove 

Stock dove 

Turtle dove 

Sardician warbler 


Robic 

Black-eared wheatear 

Blackbird 

Sorg thrush 

?Iistle thrzsh 

Chaff] cch 

Jay 

Raver. 

v = Very Rare 4A = Worth Afrjca Frdemic 

= Rare TA = Tuci sj a / ~lgerj 

a Yrdenj c 

t = Threster-ed ? = Txjsia Erdemic

Area: 495,WID ha 

Specific Sites 3upoIctar.t tb 3ialogical D i e - - 

Djebel Bargozl: Seetion 3.4-3.7 

3j- Serd j: sertim 3-43.6 

Dj. Zitour: 

La Wmes mrvnir 

Rare ard Fcdemir Placts: 

Orods Mflora 

Myrt~s cmur.is 

Erica sp. 

Gemt2 Resource Plarts.: 

Cerator3.a siliqua 

Arbatus uedo 

Olea eumpaea nleaster 

R- bus ulmif ~lizs 

Vitis ririfera

D. SILIANA 

&jar Bmqstems: High Tell 

Tacisiac Dorsal 

BpcifSx Sites Importact to Biological Diversity: 

Djebel Bargo;: Sectior 3.4.3.7 

Dj. Serdj: Sectior 3.4.3.6 

Dj. Zitoac 

La Xhmes Reservoir 

Flora: 

Xa-l forest: 15,7CO ha 

;.le~pr, pir.e, holn oak, :"lkktar cypress 

I%o_xis: Jsri~er 

Clea-ler.tisc;s 

Czltissirc: :25,003 ns 

Rare ax2 Erdenic Flarts: 

r Orwis bifi~ra rNA Sorbus aria 

7elilotiis elegacs rCA Lirun corymbiferurn lambesanum 

Trifoli~m striatsm rllA Cotoceaster racemiflora 

HeSysar-dm hzmile fortacesj i T 

Lathy ris setifoliiis T A 

C repis tucetace 

Silece tucetara 

Ophrys scolopex rXA Acer mocspess~lacum 

Rac;rc;ls falcatss ssp. TA Rupicapcos nimidiccs ssp. 

3mar.j a nacrosepala Y' A Reseda duriaeaca 

Drzba hlspacica T Ccpressus semper.virecs f. 

Arabis verca T Gerista microcephala turetana 

A. parvzle T Dia~thus gaditanus 

A. hirs;ta 3 A Polygocum balansae 

Spergzla pertardra r Astragzl~s crdciatzs aristidis 

Eose agreesr5s r T Plactago tccetaca 

nediciral Placts: 

Rosmarieus officinalis Pistacia lentiscus 

t+?yrtss conmaris Cupressus sempervirerxi 

Erica sp. Tamarix sp. 

Gecetic Resoarce P1ar.t~: 

Ceratoria siliqza Quercus suber 

Arbiit~s acedo Q. ilex 

Olea europaea oleaster Crataegus azarolus 

Fubss almj foli 2s Hedysarum cororarizm 

Vj t is vicifera I?. pallidun

Mammals: 

Wild boar 

t Hyeca 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Kaffir cat 

Commor geret 

Egyptian morgoose 

Browr hare 

Birds: 

Icfluecces : 


r Peregrire 

r Kestrel 

Co9t 

Woodcock 

roo?, pigeoc 

sock cove 

Siliana ( ~onticued) 

Algerian hedgehog 


XA Shew's .tird 

~erbillis campestris (gerbil) 

Field mouse 

Jaculus orientalis (jerboa) 

Chiropidae 

Eagle owl 

Barr owl 


Sardiniar warbler 

R~fous bushchat 

Blackbird 

Chef fir-ch 

Sone rosemary harvesticg 

Cultjvatioc, grazirg, erosior 

Dams 

Tinber harvestjcg - Dj. Serd j 

Plartatiocs 

Reserve - Aix Boa Saadia, 12 ha protected sicce 1901 

r = 9a1.e Xk = !Jorth Africa Ecdemic 

t = Threater-ed 

r. = Nestirg Bird 

Th = ~acisia/Al~eria Erdemic

Area: 350,000 ha 

E. BIZERTE 

Major Ecosystems: Mogod Mountains 

Coast 


Mateur Plain 

Specific Sites Impartart to Biological Diversity: 

Ichkeil Natiocal Park: Sectiocs 3.3.1A, 3.4.1F, 5.4.2 

Lake Bizerte: Sectioc 3.3.1B 

Reservoirs: Oueds Sejcace, Melah, Joumine, Chezala, Besbesia 

Sacred Wood: Section 3.4.1.5 

O~ed Med jerda Estaary: Sectior 3.l.2B 

Garaet Sejcare: Temporary wetlard with several rare placts 

Flora : 

Kat.irel Forest: 

Csrk oak, kermes aak, aleppo pice 

Plarted Forest: > 18,000 ha 

Aleppo pire, pigror pine, eucalyptus 

Xaqsis: Olea-lectiscus 

Cultivated Lard: 200,000 ha 

Falophj les 

:are ard Fcdenic Plarts: 

r Saljx pcrpurea r Lotus creticus commutatus 

r Rarurculus parviflorus r Echicodorus racurcsloides 

r E. ophiogloss~m rNA Oconis rosea 

r Spargarium erectam TA Sedurn tuberosum 

r Nynphaea alba T Limocium boitardji 

r Potamogetor lucecs T Silene barrattei 

r P. ratars T Teucrium schoececbergeri 

Fediclral Plarts: 

Cappar5.s spl 7 rosa Erica sp. 

Pistacia lertiscus Tamarix sp. 

Myrtus cornmucis Euphorbia sp. 

Asphodelus microcarpus 

Gecetlc Resosrce Pla~ts: 

Ceratoriia sill qua Quercus suber 

Olea earopaea oleaster Rubus ulmifolius 

Arbatus uredo Hedysarum coronarium

Mammals : 

Buffalo 

Wild boar 

r Otter 

Egyptiac mocgoose 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Browc hare 

Xlgeriac hedgehog 

Zorilla lybica 

Crested porcspice 

Eiras: 

Bizerte (~octicaed) 

NA Shaw's jird 

Field mouse 

Cerbillus cam estris (gerbil) 

NA Jacrlus a;-(jerboa) 

Eli omys quercyrus 

Rhinolophus euryale (bat) 

R. ferrum-equicum 

*I 

- 

SFF Figire 7, Birds of Ichke~l 

Myotis rnyoti s 

Kinopterus schrej bersii " 

Arvicacthus barba~xs 

Hoilse m3JS.e 

Re~tiles zr? An~hibiacs ( fron UCL 1977) : 

Fare ritib-cde Lacerta ocellata 

F!. escdecta 

Psammodromas algi rus 

3iscogloss~s pictus 

Chalcidfs chalcides 

a;f~ ~ A O 

!?. viric?:s 

C. ocelletus 

Tarertola rnauritarica 

3. macritar-ic;s 

Chamaeleor. chamaeleoc 

Eyle arborea 

Natrix maara ( scake) 

Ple~rodeles poireti 

Malpoloc rnocspessulacus " 

Yestcdo graeca 

Corocella girocdica 

I, 

Clenmys leprosa 

Emys broic~laris 

Vipera lebetica 

Icflsecces: 

Fj rebreak creatior and maictecacce 

1%:~ 

rt.;s hervestixg 

Fish traps or. Lake Ichkeul and Lake Rizerte 

Cultivatioc, grazing and erosioc 

Dams or. the rivers flowicg irto Lake Ichkeal 

Port activity 

Deve1opmer.t 

I' = FEN !:A = T!orth Africa Z~denjc 

t = tnreateced Tk = Tucisia/~lgeria Ecdenj c 

'?= ?;r.isia Ecdenic 

*I

Area: 290,000 ha 

F. NABEUL 

Major Ecosystems: Tucisiac Dorsal 

Coastal 


Djebel Sidi Abder Rahnace: Sectioc 3.4.3.13 

Djebel Korbous 

Zembra Islacd: Section 3.2.2 

Korba Lagoocs, Sebkhets El Houaria acd Fardjouca 

Solimac Marshes: Sectioc 3.1.2B 

Oaed el Abid 

Reservoirs: Lebna, Somaa 

Flora : 

Nat-ral Forest: Kermes oak, holm oak, cork oak 

Planted Forest: Eucalyptus, acacia, aleppo pice, pigcnc pice 

Yaquis: Olea-lectiscus, retama 

Czltivzted Plaic: 215.000 ha 

Rare ard Ecdernic Plarts: 

Sacguisorba spicosa T A 

Aveca locgiglumis T A 

Keliot;ls elegacs T 

iY. macrocarpa T 

Silecf ceglecta rNA 

S. sedoides N A 

Lavatera pacctata rNA 

Sisymbrium polyceratum r 

Sagica apetala ciliata X A 

Cocvovulvus cceorum T 

Eragrostis trichophora v 

Echicodoris racucculoides T 

Exaculam pusillum rT 

Jasi ore humili s v 

Iris xiphium vNA 

Koeleria splendecs N A 

Lolium temulectum rNA 

Airopsis tecella T A 

Avellicia michelli T 

Aster tripolium v 

Carex flacca eu-glauca r 

Cyclamec africacum r 

Chaetocychia cymosa r 

Meriophy llum spica tum r 

Salpi chroa rhomboidea r 

Sececio lividus r 

S. foliosils r 

Vicia sicala r 

V. disperma r 

E~phorbia squamigera 

Reseda duriaeaca 

Sedum tuberosum 

Scabiosa faricosa 

Crepis tacetaca 

Juccus subnodulosus 

Erodium hymecoides 

E. mucbyacum 

E. maritirnum 

Brassica cretica atlacti ca 

Licaria cossoci 

L. Pelleceriana 

Scabiosa faricosa 

Diacthus rupicola hermaecsis 

Cecta~rea eriophora 

C. cinerarea gymrocarpa subv. 

Geci sta aspalathoides 

Bun5um crassifolium 

Lepidium glastifolium 

Silene barrattei 

S. mollisima 

Cystopteris filix-fragilis ssp 

Cectunculus bricimus 

Elatice hydropiper peducculata 

Heli acthemum salicifolium ssp. 

Plactago cororopus ssp. 

Swcowia balearica 

Racuncalus parviflorus 

Lathyras acczas 

Ceraciun clmbica

Kedi cical Plarts: 

Myrtus commucis 

Rosmaricus of ficicalis 


Nabeul (conticuedl 

Gecetic Resource Plants: 

Ceratoria siliqua 

Olea ezropaea oleaster 

Orchids: Ophrys apifera 

0. bombyljflora 

T!eotf ria icracta 

Acacamptis puramidelis 

H: nartoglossum hi rcicum 

Fzxa : 

Kamz:lals: 

b'ild boar (xcomnoc) 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Kafflr cat 

Egyptiar norgoose 

. E~ropeac rabbit ssp. 

Sirds: See Fig;re 11 


Euphorbj a sp. 

Erica multiflora 

Quercus sp. 

Vitis vinifera 

Orchis palustris 

0. paters 

0. choriophora 

0. papiliocacea 

Serapias parviflora 

S. lirgua ssp. e2-licgaa 

Black rat 

NA Shew's jird 

NA Gerbillus cam estris (gerbil) 

Jaculus or-(jerboa) 

Field mouse 

Eliongs quercyrus 

Sparrouhewk trappicg : Use2 for hurting, ther. released 

Hxtlrg acd poachicg 

Pollutior: Sewage discharge, dumpice 

Dams 

To~ristic developmeet 

Crazirg, ciltivatiac, erosioc 

v = Very Rare NA = Gorth Africa Ecdemic 

I' = Rare ?A = Tcci sj a/~lgeria Ecdemj c 

T = T~cisia Erdemic

Gancet 

Grey heror. 

Little egret 

t White stork 

Black stork 

C race 

Greater flamicgo 

Spoorbill 

Glossy ibis 

Shelduck 

Kallard 

Osprey 

Black kj te 

t Red kite 


Narsh harrier 

Her harrier 


Moxtag~'~ harrier 

Sparro-,:hawk 

Levact sparrowhawk 

Biizzard 

Locg-legged buzzard 

Horey bxzard 

Lesser spotted eagle 

Booted eagle 

Bocelli ' s eagle 

Egyptiar v~lture 

Red-footed falcoc 

Plerlic 

Hobby 

Eleocora' s falcoc 

Saker falcoc 

Laccer falcoc 

t Peregrice 

Figure 11 

Bj rds of the Nabeul Couvercorat 

(from Scace 1977, ICRP 1987) 

t = Threatened species 

Kestrel 

Lesser kestrel 


Quail 

Coot 

Moorhec 

Black Virged-stilt 

Oystercatcher 

Avocet 

Ricged plover 

Little rireed plover 


Little stict 

Temmirck's stict 

Redshark 

Spotted redshack 

Greershack 

Curlew sacdpiper 

Commoc sacdpj per 

Black-tailed godwlt 


Mediterraceac gzll 

Little gull 

Herricg gull 

Black terc 

Little terc 

Caspiac terc 

Palm dove 

Roller 

Bee eater 

Cuckoo 

Hoopoe 

Wrer 


Galerid larks 

Fac-tailed warbler 

Blackcap 

Uhj tethroat 

Bocelli' s warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Goldcrest 




Grey wagtail 

Tree pipit 

\r!ater pipit 

Swallcw 

House nartic 


Redstart 

S torechat 

Koussier' s redstart 

Rlackbi rd 

Nightir-gale 

Rufous bashchat 

Robic 

Goldficch 

Chaffjrch 

Serir 

Oriole 

Durrock 


Ravec 


Woodchat shrike

Area: 125,000 ha 

G. TUNIS 

Major Ecosystems: Coast: Gulf of Tunis 

Marire Lake 

Wed jerda Valley 


Lake Txis: Section 3.3.1.3 

Sebkhet Ariaca: Sectioc 3.3.2.1 

Sebkhet Sedjoumi: 3.3.2.2 

Oued Meleg Pords 

Eou Kornire Natioral Park: Sectioc 3.4.3.12 ard 5.4.5 

Djebel Ressas: Sectioc 3.4.3.11 

Flora : 

Kat~ral Forest: Th~ya, holm oak 

Placted Forest: Aleppo pice, eucalypts, acacia, F!aktar cypress 

Maq~is: Kermes oak, Olea-lertiscus 

C~ltivated Lacd: 65,000 ha 

lialophiles 

Rare acd Erdemic Placts: 

v Cyclanec persicm NA Gecista aspalathoides 

r Ophrys scolopax XA Chamaerops humilis 

r Amaracthus gracilis IJA Srassica cretica atlartica 

r Ococis biflora TA Spergalaria margirata ssp. 

r 0. perdula TA Sklene tunetaaa 

r Rac~ccal-.m scleratus TA Kelilotils macroczrpa 

r Vicia hjrsuta r Ocobrychis capat-galli 

r V. bithycjca v. geruica 

M~dicical Placts: 

Rosmaricus officicalis Erica sp. 

Fy rtis commuci s 


Globularia alypun 

Capparis spicosa 

Euphorbia sp. 

Tamarix sp. 

Opactia ficus-icdica 

Lavardula multifida 

Genetic Resocrce Placts: 

Olea europaea oleester Crateegus azarolas 

Ceratoria siliqua Quercus ilex 

Arbutus ucedo

Tucis (~ortinued) 

Xammals (foucd at BOG or cine) : 

Wild Boar N A 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Egyptian mocgoose 

Common gecet 

Saharac striped weasel 

Kaffir cat 

Brwn hare 

Crested porc~pice 

Algeriar hedgehog 

Striped rat 

Dlioms quercycus 

- N A 

?!amr.als Zxtirpate? f ron the Reeioc: 

C~vier' s gazelle 

Aozdad 

Hy er.a 

3irds: See 7igzre 12 

Beptiles ard Amphibiacs: 

Test~do graeca (tortoise) 

B~fo mauritacicss (toad) 

I! 

F. viridis 

Raca ridibxda 

Discoglossus pi ctus 

Yy la meridior.alis 

Plecradelis poj retti 

Tararetola mauritar-ica 

Stecodactyl~s petriei 

Lacerta ocellata 

Scorpiors: 

B~thus occitarus 

Shaw's jird 

Suncus etruscus (shrew) 

Crocidura russula " 

Rhinolophus eilryale (bat) 

- R. ferrum-equinum 

R. hipposideros micimus " 

Kotis blythi oxygcathus " 

Pipistrellus ~ipistrellus 

Eptesicds seroticus 

Mini opterus schreibersi " 

Field mouse 

Jaculus oriectalis (jerboa) 

Gerbill~s cain~estris (gerbil) 

Serval 

Caracal 

Psammod romis algir~s 

Chalcides ocellat~s 

C. liceat~s 

Chamaeleoc chamaeleoc 

Natrix maura (snake) 

11 

Coluber hippocrepis 

Falpoloc mo~spess~lacus 

1* 

Macropotodoc cucsllat~s 

Vipera lebetica na~ritacica " 

Scorpio maurus 

Developmeet: Filli~g Lake Turis, tourism developmect 

Pollatior.: Sewage ard chemi.ca1 discharge, dunpirg 

Shippicg Cacals ir Lake Tucis 

Fish Traps ir Lake Tncis 

B3; Korcire Natiocal Park 

v = Very Rare NA 6 h'orth Africa Crdemic 

1. = Pare TA = Txisia/~lgeria Er.denj c 

" 

11

Little grebe 


Black-cecked grebe 

c Cormorant 

Grey heroc 

Cattle egret 

Little egret 

Spoocbi 11 


tr White stork 

Cra~e 

Greglag goose 

c Kallard 

t )!arbled tesl 

Teal 

Pictail 

Shoveler 

Pochard 

Tafted duck 

t Vhite-headed dzck 

Osprey 

Black kite 

c Short-toed eagle 

Sparrowhawk 

Bczzerd 

Locg-legged bazzard 


Booted eagle 

Goiter eagle 

Egyptiar vultare 

Karsh harrier 

Peregrine 

Hobby 

a Kestrel 


Quail 

Rock dove 

Tiirtle dove 

Figure 12 

Birds of the Tunis Goavernorat 

Coot 

Lapwicg 

Avocet 


Grey plover 

Ricged plover 



Redshank 

Greecshark 


Commori sardpiper 

Wmd sacdpiper 

Marsh sardpiper 

Duclic 

Raf f 


Scipe 

Stone curlew 

Slecder-billed gull 

Black-headed gall 

Flediterracean gull 

c Herring gall 

Gull-billed terc N A 

Little tern 

Sacdwich terc 

Swallow 

Crag martic 

Meadow pipit 

Water pipit 

Grey wagtail 


White wagtail 





Ravec 

Ban: owl 

Eagle owl 


Little owl 

Nightjar 

Swift 

Alpine swift 

Bee eater 

Roller 

Kicgfisher 

Hoopoe 


Skylark 

Crested lark 

Fac-tai led warbler 

warbler 

Blackcap 


Chiffchaff 



Wheatears 

Redstart 

Moussier's redstart 


Bluethroat 

Luscina megarhynchos 

Cercotrichas galac 

Blackbird 

Socg thrash 

Coal tit 

Ortolac 


Chafficch 


Greenfiach 

Lincet 

Seric 

t = Threatened IiA = North Africa Yademic 

r = Nesticg Bird

Area: 375,000 ha 

Ha jor Ecosystems: 

H. ZAGHOUAN 

Tunisian Dorsal Mwantaics 

Sebkhets 

Ned jerda Valley 

Specific Sites Important to Biological Diversity: 

Djebel Zaghouan: Section 3.4.3.9 

Dj. Macsoar: Sectioc 3.4.3.6 

Dj. BOG Safra: Section 3.4.3.10 

Bir Fiecherga Reservoir 

Sebkhet Kourzia: 3.3.2.3 

Flora : 

IJatdral Forest: 32,000 ha 

Aleppo pice, thuya 

Plar-ted Forest: 14,580 ha 

Aleppo pice: 14,000 ha 

Eucalyptus, acacia. l-iaktar cypress: 58C ha 

Kaquis: 23,685 ha 

Olea-lectiscus, juciper, degraded aleppo pSce forest 

C~ltivated: 245,000 ha 

Rare acd Erdemic Plarts: 

v Saxifraga dichotoma FA Gecista aspalathoides 

r Acer monspess~lacum IIA G. tricuspidata 

r Rosa stylosa TA Lepidium glastifolium 

T Arabis hirsuta TA Reseda duriaeaca 

T Linaria scariosa T Sicapsis pubescecs brachyloba 

'7 L. reflexa V. doumeti r Phagcaloc cycodoc 

Medicinal Placts: 

Rosmaricss officicalis Euphorbia sp. 

Globalaria alypum Erica sp. 

Pistacia lectiscus Asphodel~s microcarpus 


Cecetic Reso~rce Plants: 

Ceratocia siliqua 

Olea europaea oleaster 

Fauca : 

Mammals: 

Wild boar 

t Hyeca (:cconxnoc) 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Browc hare 

Hedysarurn corocarim 

Jasmicum fruticacs 

Egyptian mocgoose 

Commoc geret 

Algeriax hedgehog 

Crested porcspjc~ 

S>ccas etr~scas (shrew)

Birds: 



hlla rd 

Pochard 

Merlin 

Kestrel 

tn Peregrine 

Golden eagle 


Griffon vulture 

Eerbary partridge 

Quail 

Coot 

Lapwir-g 

Little ri~eed plover 



Greershank 


Influences : 

Zeghouen (continued) 

Common tern 

Woodcock 

Snipe 

Wood pigeon 

Rock dove 

Turtle dove 

Barn. owl 

Eagle owl 

Galerid larks 

Sardirian warbler 

Redstart 

h'heatear 

Blackbird 


Serir 

Goldfir-ch 

Starlirg 

Raver 

Forest fires, firebreaks 

Hsnting 

Cultivation, grazirg, erosior 

Soil Corservatior terracirg 

Pemanert reserves: Djebel Zagho-3ar (4,775 ha) ; 

D j . Bou Saf ra - c. 500 ha 

v a Very Rare NA = North Africa Fkdemic 

r = Rare TA = Tixisia/Algerie Endenic 

t = Threatered 

n = ?!estirg Bird 

T = T~risia Erdernic

Area: 665,000 ha 

I. KAIROUAN 

Major Ecosystems: Tucisiac Dorsal Hountains 

Low Steppe 


Djebel Ousselat: Sectioc 3.4.3.5 

Air Chrichira 

Sebkhet Sidi el Haci: Section 3.3.2.5 

Lake Metbasta: Sectioc 3.3.2.8 

Reservoirs: Nebhaca, Sidi Saad 

Flora : 

Natural Forest: Aleppo pice 

Plarted Forest: Aleppo pice, eucalyptus, acacia, cypress 

Kaql;is: 40,000 ha 

Rosemary, Degraded aleppo pice forest 

Esparto Grass Steppe: 20,000 ha 

Cxltivated: 460,000 ha 

Rare acd 5cdemic Placts: 

r RacxrciAzs sclera tas NA Polygocum balacsae 

1. Atriplex tatarj ca T Diacthus gad5 tanus 

r Glicss lotoides T Ferula tunetaca 

r. Poter.ti.lla sspiea T Astragalus cruciatus arj.sttdis 

r Rose agrestis 

Fedicical Plarts: 

Capparis spir.osa Globalaria alypum 

~o&arirus- of fj cicalis Tamarix sp. 


Gecetic Resoirce Plarts: 

Ceratocia sjliqua 

Olea esropaea oleaster 

Fauca : 

Eamme 1s : 

Wild boar 

Hyeca 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Browr. hare 

Crataegus sp. 

Egyptian mongoose 

Common genet 


Crested porcupice

Kairouac (~onticued) 

- Birds: 

Little grebe c 


Black-cecked grebe tr, 

Grey heron 

n Little egret 


Mallard 

Pictail 

Avocet 

Black wicged-stilt 


Cream colored coJrser 

n Collared praticcole 

Store curlew 

White-wicged black terc 

Little terc 

Black-bellied sacderouse 

Harsh harrier 

Borelli's eagle r. 

Booted eagle 

tc P~regrice 

r. Kestrel 

c Egyptiac v~lture 


Crane 

Houbara b~stard 

Coot 

Rock dove 

Palm dove 

Little owl 

Bare owl 

Hoopoe 



Galerid larks 

Sky lark 


Black wheatear 


Rufous bashchzt 


Rock sparrow 


Starlirg 

Raver. 

Inflsecces: Karble q.aar~-y: Djebel Ousselat 

Hucticg and poachicg 

Cultiva tioc, grazicg , erosioc 

Soil Cocssrvatioc terracicg 

Dams OK rivers flowing into Sebkhet Kelbia 

r = Rare NA = North Africa Ecdemic 

t = Threateced T = Tacisia Ecdemic 

c = Mesticg Birds

Area: 800,000 ha 

J. KASSERINE 

Major Ecosystems: Tunisiac Dorsal Maintains 

High Steppe 

Specific Sites Imprtact to Biological Dtversity: 

Djebels Chambi, Bireco, Krhilla, Sellom: Secs. 3.4.3.1-4 

Kechem el Kelb Reserve: Sectioc 5.4.11 

Flora : 

Ratural Forest: 151,000 ha 

Alepp~ pine, holm oak 

Flacted Forest: C. 1,600 ha 

Aleppo pice, edcalyptus, acacia 

!;aq;is: 110,000 ha (oftec with aleppo pice) 

Rosemary, j~niper 

%perto Crasslard : 173,000 ha 

Czltivated: 105,000 ha 

Rare acd Ecdemic Placts: 

v Delphi cim bala~sae rNA Cotoceaster racemiflora 

r. Vi cia villosa dasy carpa r?!A Stipa fo~ta~esii 

r Trigorella gladjata rNA Campacula atlactica 

r Leoctice lemt~petaltim rHA Sorbus aria 

r Bdf focia tecuifolia ?!A Polygo~um balacsae 

r Arecarj a emargicata T Silece barrattej 

rTk Erassica dimorpha T Astragalis cruciatas aristidis 

TA Reseda alphocsii T Onocis natrix filifolia 

TA R. duriaeaca T Genista microcephala tunetana 

'7.4 Iberis odorata balacsae rT Stipa lagascae letourceuxij 

TA Rtipicapcos cumidicus ssp. T Diacthus gaditacus 

I4~dicical Plarts: 

Clobularta alypum Pistacia lectiscus 

Artemisia campestris Retama raetam 

Rosmarinus officinalis 

Gecetic Resozrce Plactsi 

Olea earopaea oleaster Quercus jlex 

Arbctus ucedo Crataegas azarolus

Faxa : 

k!ammals: 

Wild boar 

Aoudad (reintroduced) 

t Cuvier' s gazelle 

t Hyeca 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Kaffir cat 

Commor. gecet 

Algeri ar hedgehog 

White hedgehog 

Erowc hare 

Crested porczpice 

1.4 Ci;r.di 

R~zt=les ti~d An~hibiacs: 

Discoglossas pic tss 

3;fo viridis (toad) 

E. rna~ritanicus " 

Ysna ridlburda ( f rag) 

Testcdo graeca 

I

Figure 13 

Birds of the '~asserice Couvernorat 

(from Dir. For. 1981) 

t Red kite n Short-toed lark 

L Black kite c Lesser sht-td lark 

n Short-toed eagle n Calandra lark 

Sparrowhawk n Woodlark 

n Locg-legged buzzard n Skylark 

n Bocelli's eagle n Crested lark 

c Booted eagle c Thekla lark 

c Goldec eagle c Swallow 

c Egyptiar vulture n Crag rnartjr 

m Griffoc v~lture Sard nartjr. 

m Marsh harrier House martir 

rn !!ortagd1 s harrier Tree pipit 

Laecer falcoc Meadow pipit 

tr Peregrice c Tawry pj pit 

Barbary falcox Grey wagtail 

Hobby White wagtail 

c Kestrel Yellow wagtail 

c Barbary partridge c Great grey shrike 

n Quail c Woodchat shrike 

Pic- tailed sacdgrosse Reed warbler 

Black-bellied sacdgrouse Great reed warbler 

c Rock dove Helodious warbler 

c Stock dove c Olivaceous warbler 

c Turtle dove n Whitethroat 

c Bare owl Cardec warbler 

c Eagle owl Blackcap 

Locg-eared owl n Orpheac warbler 

rn Scops owl c Sardiciar warbler 

c Little owl Spectacled warbler 

Eiiropeac r.ight jar Willow warbler 

t Red-cecked eight jar Chiffchaff 

Swift Wood warbler 

Pallid swift Bonelli's warbler 

Alpice swift Spotted flycatcher 

r. Bee-eater Pied flycatcher 

Roller Whirchat 

c Hoopoe c Blue rock thrdsh 

c = liestice Birds 


Rock thrash 

Wheatear 

c Desert vheatear 

n Black-eared wheatear 

c Kourcicg wheatear 

c Red-rumped wheatear 

c Black whea tea r 


Redstart 

r Mo:ssieres redstart 

r: Robir. 

Rluethroat 

Ri ghtirgale 

R~fozs hzshchat 

Blackbird 

Rirg o~zel 

Sorg thrush 

Kistle thrzsh 

r Blue tit 

c C~rr bzrtirg 

c Cirl buctirg 

Ortolar 

c Chafficch 

c Greerfjrch 

Trdmpeter firch 

Licr~ t 

c Serir 

Crossbj 11 

c Sparjsh sparrow 

c House sparrow 

Rock sparrow 

Starlicg 

Spotless starlicg 

Goldec oriole 

Raver

Area: 705,000 ha 

Hajor Ecosystems: Low Steppe 

High Steppe 

r.fouctains 

Sebkhets 

K. SIDI BOU ZID 

Specific Si.tes Important to Biological Diversity: 

Bou Hedma N. P.: Sections 3.4.4.2, 3.3.5.3, a ~ d 5.4.4 

Sebkhets Sidi Macsour acd er Noual: Sectioc 3.3.2.7 

Sebkhet Mechguig: Section 3.3.2.8 

Flora : 

Nat~ral Forest: Aleppo pice, holm oak 

Placted Forest: Aleppo pice, eacalyptns, acacia 

Waq2is: Jzciper 

Esparto Grasslacd: 124,000 ha 

Ccltivated: 345,000 ha 

Rare and Ecdenic Placts: 

r Saccharzm ravenrae T Dianthus gaditacus 

r Arecaria emarginata T Karr~bium aschersocii 

r Lotus cocimbricecsis TA Rupicap~os cunidicus 

r Biscutella didymti ssp. apdla 

Medicical Plants: 

Pistacia lectisczs Tamaria gallica 

Rosmaricus officicalis Asphodelus sp. 

Globularia alyyim Artemisia sp. 

Ceretic Resource Placts: 

Olfa europaea oleaster Acacia raddiara 

Faxa : 

Mammals: 

t 

t 

t 

Dorcas gazelle IZ A 

Slender-horced gazelle N A 

Aoudad 

Addax ( reintroduced) 

Scimitar-homed oryx " 

Jackal 

Seed fox 

Red fox 

Kaffir cat 

Sacd cat 

Commor geret 

Saharan striped weasel r 

Rrowc hare 

Crested porc~pire 

G ~ r d i 

Shaw's jird 

Desert jird 

Gerbils (6 species) 

Sand rat 

Black rat 

Palm rat 

Hozse mouse 

Lesser Egyptiac jerboa 

Jerboa 

Bats: (5 species) 

Desert hedgehog 

Rlephart shrev

- Birds: See Figure 14 

Sidi Bou Zid (continued) 

Reptiles and Amphibiacs (from Blanc acd Scare 1987): 

Race ridibucda Cerastes vipera ( snake) 

Bufo viridis (toad) 

B. mauritacicus " 

Discoglossus pictus 

C. cerastes 

Echis carinatus 

Malpoloc moilecsis 

11 

" 

** 

Testudo g. graeca 

Sphalerosophis diaderna " 

Tarectola mauritanica 

Naja h. haje 

.I 

Tropiocolotes tripolj tanus Psammophis sp. 

11 

Stecodactylus ste~odactylus Coluber hippocrepis 

*I 

Agama mutabills 

Varacns grisezs 

Uromastix acacthicuris Sciccns sciccus (skick) 

Chamaeleoc chamafleoc 

Chalcides o. ocellatus " 

Psammodromus algiris colli Eumeces elgeriecsi s 

11 

Rremias oliveri 

E. schceideri 

Acacthodactylus baskiacus Sciccopus fasciatus 

I* 

Ophisops occidectalis 

Sphecops boalecgeri 

Influecces : 

Hucticg and Poaching 

Esparto grass harvesticg: 10 - 1% of catiocal total 

Caltivati9c, overgrazing, erosioc 

Pastnre fmprovemect: 20,000 ha placted to cactus, acacia 

atriplex, etc. 

Boz Hedma N.P. 

r = Rare NA = Horth Africa Ecdemic 

t = Threateced TA = ~ucisia/~lgeria Bcdemic 

T = Tucisj a Ecdemj c

Black kite 


Sparrowhawk 

Buzzard 

Larg-legged bazzard 

Hocey bazzard 

Boated eagle 


Colder eagle 

Egyptiac vxltzre 

Griffoc v,ltsre 

Yarsh herrier 

l.!or.tag;'s harrier 

Pellid harr;er 

Lamer falcor 

t Per~gr5r.e 

YES t re1 


Q22i? 

t Ha,bara bzstard 

2otter~l 

Stoce c~rl~w 

Cream col~red courser 

Spotted sandgrosse 

Pi--tailed sacdgro~se 

Sleck-bellied sacdgrosse 

ROCK d5ve 

Tzrtle dove 

Paln dove 

Great-spotted csckoo 

C;;ckoo 

Sarr ml 

Eagle owl 

Lor-g-eared owl 

sccps owl 

Little owl 

Kight jar 

t Red-recked cightjar 

Egyptiar. right jar 

Suif t 

Little swift 

Pallid swjft 

Alpice swift 

Eke-~ater 

3sller 

Fig~re 14 

Birds of the Sidi Pou Zid Gouvernorat 

(from Dlr. For. 1980) 

Hoopoe 

Chiffchaff 

klryceck 

Wood warbler 

Temminck's horned lark Bocellj 's warbler 

Hoopoe lark 


Short-toed lark Pied flycatcher 

Lesser short-toed lark Collared flycatcher 

Desert lark 

Storechat 

Rar-tailed desert lark Whicchat 

Dupoct ' s lark 

Blae rock thrush 

Cala~d ra lark 

Rock thrush 

Thi ck-billed lark Wheatear 

Skylark 

Desert wheatear 

Crested lark 

Isabellice wh~atear 

Swallow 

Blackeared wheatear 

Crag martir 

Ko~rci~g vheatear 

Sand martic 

Red-rsmped wheatear 

House martic 


Tree pipit 


Meadow pipit 

Redstart 

Red- thmated pi pit MoassSer' s redstart 

?awry pi pit 

Robic 

White wagtai l 

Nighticgale 

Grey wagtai 1 

Blue throa t 


Rufous bashchat 

Great grey shrike Blackbird 

Wo~dchat shrike Sorg thrash 

Reed warbler 

F~lvaus babbler 

Great reed warbler Blue tit 

Aquatic warbler Wrer 

Sedge warbler 

Corc bucticg 

Far- tailed warbler 

Scr~b warbler 

House bmticg 

Ortolar. 

Icterice warbler Chaffirch 

Melodious warbler Goldfinch 

Olivaceoas warbler Greenfinch 

Whitethroat 

Linet 

Garden warbler 

Trumpeter finch 

Blackcap 

Serir 

Orpheac warbl~r Spanish sparrow 

Sardiciac warbler Rock sparrow 

Subalpice warbler Sp~tless atarlicg 

Desert warbler 

Star1ir.g 

Spectacled warhler Colder- oriole 

l'armora' s warbler 

Fillow wa~nbler 

Raver

Area: 280,000 ha 

Major Ecosystems: Low Steppe 

Coast 

Sebkhets 

L. MAHDIA 

Specific Sites Importact to Biological Diversity 

Gulf of Hammarnet: Section 3.1.3 

Sebkhet Moknice: Sectioc 3.3.2.8 

Flora : 

Steppe: Artemisia. Mostly cultivated to graics acd olive groves 

Cultivated: 200,000 ha 

Halophiles: 10,000 ha 


NAS Li mor-iastrum g.2~ ociarxm 

Fledicical Plants: 

Artemisia sp. 

Phoecix dactylifera 

Faaca : 

Kamals : 

Jackal 

Red fox 

Browc hare 

Birds: Similar to Gabes migracts (Figure 15) 

Icfluecces: 

Solacum sodomaeam 

Lavacdula nultifida 

Algeriac hedgehog 

NA Shawe s jird 

Gerbils 

Cultivatioc, overgrazicg, erosioc 

Settlirg pond overflow icto Sebkhet Mokcire 

)!AS = Ecdemic to North African Sahara 

CA = Erdemic to North Africa

Area: 105,000 ha 

N. MONASTIR 


Coast: Gulf of Hammamet 


Kuriate Islacd: Sectioc 3.2.3 

Lake Monastir: Section 3.3.1.4 

Mocastir Salt Pocds: Sectioc 3.3.1.5 

Flora : 

Steppe: Artemisia. Mostly cultivated to graics and olive groves 

Cdtivated: 80,000 ha 

Halophiles 

Ecdemlc Plact: NAS Lirnociastrxm g~yociacm 

Yedici ca? Platts: 

Artenisla SD. Pi stacia lectiscas 

Phoecix dactylifera Lavar.dcla multifida 

Solanum sodomaezm Tamarix sp. 

Gecetic Resocrce Plart: Crataegus azarol~s 

Kanmals : 

Jackal MA European rabbit ssp. (~uriate) 

Red fox )!A Cerbillus campestris (gerbil) 

Algeriac hedeehog !IA Shaw's jird 

Rrowc hare 

- 

Little grebe Herricg gull 

Grey heror. 


Birds: Gdfs of Hammamet acd Gabes waders (~ecti.0~ 3.1.3 & 4) and: 

Little egret Slender-billed gull 

Greater flamingo n Little terc 

n Shelduck Collared praticcole 

Sardiciac warbler Sky lark 

Lesser short-toed lark Spectacled warbler 

Medi terraceac gull Brambling 

Icfluecces: Cultivatioc, grazixg , erosior. 

Pollutior.: Sewage discharge, dumpi.eg 

r. = r1estir.g Xrds NAS = North Africar. Sahara Ecdemic 

!]A = 3orth Africa Ecdenlc

Area: 235,000 ha 

N. SOUSSE 


Coast: Gulf of Hammamet 


Sebkhets: Kelbia, Haulk el Meczel, Sidi Khalifa, 

Meczel Dar Be1 Ouar (~ectiocs 3.3.2.4 & 8) 

Ozed Essed: Sectioc 3.3.4.4 

Flora : 

Ste?pr: Artomj sla. >!ostly c~ltivated to grajcs acd olive groves 

Czltivated: 

Halophiles 

?7D,OOO ha 

Platted For~st : E.xalyptus, aleppg pire 

14aq:is: Oleti-lectiscus, jxipsr 

Rare acd ErdenSc Placts: 

v Ocoris viscgsa sieberi NAS Limoniastrum gzyociar.um 

r Melilotss elegars T Silene barrattei 

T Dj acthzs gaditacss T Astragalus cr2ciat.x aristidis 

T !

Sousse (~octicued) 

- Garnet 

Little Egret 

Grey heron 

Nightheror, 

Spoorbill 


Mallard 

tc Marbled teal (~elbia) 

Shelduck 

Wigeor 

Pirtail 

Shoveler 

tr White-headed dack (~elbia) 

Crare 

Eleocora's falcoc 


Water rail 

Coot 

Moorher 

Parple galliczle 

Little gdl 

Herricg gull 

Birds: Gulfs of Harnmamet and Gabes waders (~ectiocs 3.1.3 & 4) and: 

Icfluecces: 

Pratincole 

Cream colored courser 

Little terc 

Caspiar terr. 

Black tern 

Black-bellied sacdgrouse 

Palm dove 

Little owl 

Bee eater 

Hoopoe 

Swallow 


Galerid larks 


Far- tailed wrbler 

Olivaceozs warbler 

h'heatear 





Raver. 

Gravel removal from Oued Essed 

Pollution: Sewags, dunpicg 

Caltivatior, grazing, erosioc 

Dams on rivers flowing into Sebkhet Kelbin 

v = Very Rare NAS = North Africac Sahara Erdemic 

r = Rare ?:A = North Africa Erdemjc 

t = "reatered T = Tiicjsja Endemic 

r = Nestirg Birds

Area : 770,000 ha 


Coast: Gulf of Gabes 

Wetlands 

Islacd 


Thyna Salices: Section 3.3.1.6 

Sebkhets: El Djem, Baradaa, El Cherra (~ecs. 3.3.2.6 & 8) 

Kerkeccah Islacd: Sectioc 3.1.4 

Flora : 

Steppe: Artemisia ard Jsjube. Mostly cultivated to grairs acd olives 

C~ltjvated: 295,000 ha 

Halophi 1es 

Rare and Erdenic Plarts: 

r Tretadiclis tecalla NAS Limoriastrum guyociarum 

r Vicia vtllosa pse~do-cracca T Ococis catms filifolia 

r Spergalaria salica leiosperma T Marrubim aschersocij. 

T Crepis tucetaca 

Fediciral Placts: 

Artemisia sp. 

Clobularia alypum 

Faxa : 

Kamnals : 

Solanun s~donaesm 


Jackal Browc hare 

Red fox NA Shav's jird 

Algeriac Hedgehog NA Jaculas oriertalis (jerboa) 

Birds: Gulf of Cabes waders acd waterfowl (see Figure 15) acd 

Grace 

tr. White-headed duck ( ~ ~jem) l 

Stone curlew 

Cream colored courser 

c Collared praticcole 

Rock dove 

Paln dove 

Hoopoe 

Earbary partridge 

Swallow 



Crested lark 

Sky lark 

Woodlark 

Meadow pipit 

White wagtail 


Robic 

Stonec hat 


Blackbird 

Socg thrush 


Chaffj cch 

Starlice 

Spotless starlice 

Spa~ish sparrow

Icfluences: 

Sfax (continued) 

Hanting acd poaching 

Pollutf oc: Discharge acd dumpicg 

Jetty development: Chebba port 

Beach developmect 

Cultivation, grazing, erosion 

r = Rare RAS = Forth Africar Sahara Ecdemic 

c = Nesticg Sirds NA = North Africa Ecdemic 

T = Tucista Ecdemic

Area: 695,000 ha 

P. GABES 

Major Ecosystems: Coast 

Subdesertic Littoral Steppe 

Subdesertic Contintal Steppe 

Douirat Mountains 

Oases 

Specific Sites Importact to Bioloeical Diversity: 

Gdf of Gabes: Section 3.1.4 

Matmata: Section 3.4.5 

Oases: Gabes, Mareth, Metaouia, El Hamma (Sectioc 3.7) 

Sebkhet el Eamrna: Sectioc 3.3.2.11 

Flora : 

Steppe: Rha~theriiim/~rtemisja 

Halophiles 

Placted Forest: 1,500 ha of eucalyptus acd acacia 

Esparto grasslacd: 40,000 ha 

C~ltivated Steppe : 65,000 ha 

Bare acd Ecdemic Placts: 

v Cor.ocopus lepidioides NAS Limociastrum gayociacm 

r Pegacun harmala garamacturn T Fersla txetaca 

r 14or~ttia carescecs TL Isatis aleppica 

r Vicia villosa dasycarpa TA Reseda duriaeana 

r Mocsocia nivea TL Gecista microcephala var. 

r Delphicium p. pubescecs TA Zygophyllun corc~tum 

r Rmez pictus TA Silece retic~lata 

r Ceratophyllum submersum T Diacthus gaditacus 

r Fumaria parviflora T Lathyrus cumidic~s 

r Prosopis stephaciaca NA Teucri~n alopeczros 

T Marrubiun aschersocj i 

b?edicinal Placts: 

-. 

Artemisia sp. Peganum harmala 

Phoecix dactylifera Asphodelus sp. 

Retama raetam Tamarix sp. 

Rosmaricus officinalis Globularia alypm 

Gecetic Resource Plants: 

Ceratocia siliqua (~atmata) Olea europaea oleaster

Gabes (~octinued) 

Mammals: 

Yild boar (~ccornmoc) 

r Aoudad (N of El amm ma) 

Common gecet 

Crested porcapine 

t Dorcas gazelle (~hott) Brown hare 

t Hyeca (very uncommon) 

. Jackal 

NA 

NA 

Gundi 

Shaw's jird 

Red fox Rats 

Sacd fox Eliomys quercycus 

Algeriac hedgehog Chiropidae ' . 

- 

Birds: See Figore 15 

Zrdenic crdstacezr.: 

Tnermosbaexa mirabilis (~ebkhet El an ma) 

Ic~~;"~cBs: 

Foll~tioc: Zischarge, dumpicg, chemical icdustries 

Va ter naclp~latioc : pampicg , irrigatioc 

Hxtirg acd poachicg: 

Commercial flshirg 

Hare, partridge, gazelles, aoudad 

C~ltivatioc, overgrazing, erosio~ 

Desertificatior: 2,300 ha threateced by dures 

Plactatiors: Due€ fixatioc ard soil stabilizatior. 

Sol1 cocservatioc terracicg 

Past;re improvemert : Forage placticg 

Past;re reserve: 5,000 ha 

v = Very Rare NAS = north Africac Sahara Endemic 

r = Pare HA = North Africa Ecdemic 

t = Threat~red TA = Tucisia/~lgeria Ecdernic 

T = Txisia Ecdernic TL = Tacisja/Lihya Ecdemic

Little grebe 



Cory @ s shearwater 

Gaccet 

Connoract 

Squacco heron 

c* Little egret 


Little bitterc 

Porple heroc 

Grey heroc 

Glossy ibis 

t* White stork 

Slack stork 

Spoccbill 

* Greater flarnir-go 

c* Shelduck 

Wieeor. 

Gadwall 

)!allard 

Pocha rd 

Teal 

Pictail 

Gargacey 

Shoveler 

Karsh harrier 

Her. harrier 

B~zzard 

Lorg-legged bxzard 

Goldec eagle 

Osprey 

Kestrel 

Nerlic 

Lacner falcoc 

t Peregrice 

Egyptiac vulture 


Q~ail 

Koorhec 

Coot 

Crees 

t Houbara bustard 

Oystercatcher 

Ehck-wirged sti lt 

c* Avocet 

Store curlew 

Li ttle ricged plover 

Rir.ged pl3ver 

Fig~re 15 

Birds of the Gabes Gouvercorat 



Rcf f 

Broad-billed sandpi per 


Bar- tailed godwit 

Whimbrel 


Curlew 

Grey plover 

" Little stict 


c* Pedshar-k 

* Greccshack 

Greec sacdpiper 

Marsh sacdpi per 

Vood sacd pi per 

Comnoc sacdplper 

Turrstoxe 

Woodcock 

Sacde r1ir.g 

Kcot 

Lapwicg 

Rsd-cecked phalarope 

Pona rice skca 

Arctic skza 

Great skua 

* Mediterraceac gull 

Little gsll 


r* Slecder-billed gcll 

Comnoc gull 


H~rricg gull 

Great black backed gall 

Kittiwake 

c Little tern 

Gull-billed terc 

n Black terr. 

White-winged black terc 

Caspiac terc 

Lesser-crested terc 

Whiskered terc 

Sandwich terc 

c Commoc terc 

* Grejr plover 

Golder plover 

Dotterel 

* Ker-tish plover 

Kicgfisher 

Hoopoe 


Wryneck 

Sand martin 

Crested lark 

Swallow 

Hoxe martic 

Meadnw pipit 

Vood pipit 

Tawcy pipit 

Red-throated pipit 

Water pipit 

White uactail 

Yellow wagtai 1 

Grey wagtai 1 

Robic 


Masssier's redstart 

Rock throsh 

Sore thrush 

Stocechat 

Isabellice wheatear 

Wheatear 

Red-runped wheatear 

Eo~rcirg wheatear 

Blackbird 

Rufozs bcshchet 

Aquatic warbler 

Reed warbler 

Fac- tai led warbler 

Xarmora's warbler 



Subalpice warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Whitethroat 

Rlackcap 




Core bxticg 

Reed bccti cg 

Tr~mpeter ficch 

Lime t 

Goldfir.ch 

Greecflcch

Roller 

Rock dove 

Palm dove 

Turtle dove 

Bee eater 

Oriole 

Skylark 

Calandra lark 


Thick-billed lark 

Figure 15 (~octinued) 

Barn owl 

Scops owl 

Little owl 


Swift or pallid swift 

White-rumped swift 




Raven 

r. = restir.& birds 

t = threatered species 

* = > 15 of popclatior of flyway or biogeographical regioc 

Serin 

Chaf fimh 

Siskin 

Spotless starling 

Spa~ish sparrow 

S ta r1ir.g 

Wood warbler 

Olivaceous warbler 

Sedge warbler

Area: 705,000 ha 

Najor Ecosystems: Subdesertic Littoral Steppe 

Subdesertic Co~tintal Steppe 

Low Steppe 

Mozntains 

Oases 

Specific Sites Inp~rtact to Biological Diversity: 

Bou Hedma National Park (ir part): Section 5.4.4 

Orbata Reserve acd Xoactaic 

Djebels: Bos Rarnli, Se~ed 

Sebkhets: El Gaettar, El Aqsila 

Oases: Gafsa (2057 ha), Lalla (700 ha), El Guettar (527 ha) 

Flora: 

Placted Forest: Aleppo pice, eucalyptas, acacja 

Kaqzis: Jxlper, retama 

Esparto Grasslard: 119,000 ha 

Coltivated: 193,000 ha 

Steppe 

Halophiles 

Rare acd Bcdecic Plarts: 

r Acabasis aphylla 1iAS Lirnociastr~m guyociacum 

r Raczcc~lus falcatus icciirvus rNA Ococis rosea 

r R. falcatzs ea-falcatzs T 0. catrix filifolia 

r Telephim sphaerosperrnum TA Reseda alphocsii 

T Ferola txetaca TA R. d~riaeaca 

9 Astragalx crzcietus aristidis TA Oreoblitoc thesioldes 

Kedlciral Placts: 

Artenisj a sp. Lavacdula rnultifida 

Bosmaricus of fici calis Retama raetarn 

Globzlarla alypzm Tamarix sp. 

Gecetic Resource Plant: Olea esropaea oleaster 

Fauca: 

Mammals : 

t Dorcas gazelle 

t Slecder-horced gazelle 

t Aoddad 

Crested porcapice 

Jackal 

r Sacd fox 

Red fox 

Kaffir cat 

r Sacd cat 

Cornnor. gecet 

r Saharec striped weasel 

?row hare 

NA Gundi 


Desert jird 

Sand rat 

Black rat 

Palm rat 

Hozse moJse 

Lesser Eeyptiac jerboa 

Jerboa 

Bats (5 species) 

r Desert hedgehog 

Elephart shrev 

Gerbils

- Grey heror. 

t White stork 

Shelduck 

Mallard 

Teal 

Cafsa (~octinued) 

Birds: Similar to Sidi Bou Zid (see Figure 14), plus: 

Irfl~erces: 

Bearded vulture (~ede~ef) 

Crane 

Moorhen 

Stock dove 

Furtjrg axd poachirg 

Esparto grass harvestice 

C.iltivatioc, grazicg, erosioc, desertificatio~ 

So; 1 Conservatior: Terraces, embarknects, plactatiocs 

Reserves: BOG Hedna K.P. - 4500 ha ir the Couverr.orat 

Orbata - 260 ha, dorcas gazelles, ostrich 

Dj. S~red - Hurtire ard grazirg prohibited 

r = Rare MAS = N~rth 

African Sahara Ecdemic 

t = Throat~red Ck = North Africa Rrdemic 

'7 = T-cisie hdemic FA = ~x5sia/k.lp-?ria Erdenic

Area: 2,035,000 ha 

R. KEBILI 

Major Ecosystems: Subdesertic Cortictal Steppe 

Grand Eastern Erg 

Chott 

Oasis 

Specific Sites Importart to Biological Diversity: 

Ksar Chilane 

Artificial Lakes: Section 3.3.2.15 

Chott Jerid: Sectioc 3.3.2.13 

Kebili-Douz Oases: 15 ic Couvercorat (6,000 ha) 

Flora : 

Kaqdis: Juciper degradatioc 

Steppe: Rhactherium, Arthrophytum 

Cultivated: 292,000 ha 


rXAS Astragalus gombiformis TA Reseda alphorsli 

rNA Gerista saharae TA R. dixiaeare 

T A~arrhi~am brevifolium TA Zygophuyllum corcutum 

Mediciral Placts: 

Retama raetam 

Phoerix dactylifera 

Asphodelis sp. 

Euphorbia sp. 

Mamma 1s : 

t Dorcas gazelle (Dj. ~ebaga) Kaffir cat 

t Slecder-horced gazelle 

Egyptian morgoose 

t Aoudad (uncommoc) 

Browr hare 

Jackal 

Crested porcupire (!,! of ~hotts) 

Red fox 

Feccec fox 

NA Gerbillus simorj (gerbj 1) 

girds: Greater flamicgo 

Bitterc 

Mallard 

Wi geor 

Cadwall 


Shoveler 

Teal 

1.ioorher 

t Houbara bastard 

Earbary partridge 

Rock dove 

Paln dove 

Tzrtle dove 

Black-bellied sardgrouse 

Little owl 

Long-eared owl 

Hoopoe lark 

Crested lark 


White wagtail 

Scrdb warbler 


Storechat 


Eourrirg wheateer 

Sparj sh sparrow 

Raver

Icfluences: 

Kebili (continued) 

Hunting (lakes) and poaching (gazelles and hares) 

Charcoal making from Calligonorn 

Water manipulatlon: Deep wells, lake creation 

Cultivatioc, grazing (esp. camels), erosioc 

Region most menaced by desertjfication iz Tunisia 

Soil Corservation - Anti-desertification: Windbreaks, 

plantations, tabias, dme stabilizatjo~ 

r = Rare NAS = Borth Africac Sahara Ecdenjc 

t = Threateced NA = Ilorth Africa Z~denic 

T = Tu~isia Ecdernjc TA = Tucisj a/Algeria Erdernj c

Area: 845,000 ha 

S. MEDENINE 

Major Ecosystems : Subdesertic Littoral Steppe 

Subdesertic Continectal Steppe 

Douira t Mouctains 

Coast: Gulf of Gabes 

Oasis 

Island 

Specific Sites Importact to Biological Diversity 

Hamada: Proposed Desert Park (Sectioc 5.4.7) 

Djerba Islacd: Sectioc 3.2.6 

Sebkhet el Kelah: Sectioc 3.3.2.9 

Bahiret el Bibace: Sectioc 3.3.1.7 

Djebel Mogor 

Garaet Boa Crara: Coastal bay 

Gasis El Halozf: Sectioc 3.7 

Flora : 

Steppe : Artemi si a, Rhartherium 

P!aozis: Jsri~er denradation (s~arse) 

9ai-e and Endemic Placts: 

rI?A Gerista saharae r Pegaczm harmala garamactum 

r Colchicum richii r Spergularia salina leiosperma 

?:AS Limociastrum guyociacam 

Yedlci cal Placts : 

Retama raetan Plactago sp. 

Artemisia sp. Asphodelus sp. 

Phoecix dactylifera Opuctia ficus-icdica 

Karnnals : 

t Dorcas gazelle 

Jackal 

NA Gundi 


Red fox NA Gerbillus campestris (gerbil) 

Feerec fox Eliomys quercynus 

Desert hedgehog Sand rat 

Browc hare

- 


Osprey 

Lanner falcon 


Kestrel 

Criffoc valture 

Lappet-faced vulture 

Bocelli ' s eagle 

Booted eagle 

Lorg-legg~d buzzard 

??arsh harrier 

Houba ra b~stard 

Hedicice (continued) 

Birds: Gulf of Cabes waders and waterfowl (see Figure 4) acd: 

Irf lsecces : 


Cream colored cozrser 

Store curlew 

Sandgrouse (5 species) 

Calardra lark 

Crested lark 

Thekla lark 

Desert lark 

Hoopoe lark 


Fulvozs babbler 

Raver. 

Hucticg acd poachicg (gazelles acd hares) 

Shoreline Developmect 

Cultivatio~, grazicg, erosioc, desertificatioc 

Soil Cocservation Acti-desertificatioc work: p?artatiocs, 

acd duce fixatioc (700 ha) 

Proposed Desert Park at Hanada: 10,000 - 12,000 ha 

r = Rare NAS = North Africac Sahara Ecdenic 

t = Threateced NA = 3orth Africa Zcdemi c

Area: 3,600,000 ha 

T. TATAOUIME 

Najor Ecosystems: Subdesertic Continectal Steppe 

Douirat Mountains 

Cracd Eastern Erg 

Specific Sites Important to Biological Diversity: 

Jeceic - Oued Ouni: Proposed Biosphere Reserve (section 5.4) 

Flora : 

Steppe: Rhactheriun, Artemisia, Aristida, Arthrophytum 

Desert (~rg) : c. 1 ,000,000 ha dominated by Calligocum 

Czltivated: 50,000 ha 

Halophile 

Bere ard Frdemic Plarts: 

v Dipl~taxis acris E Calligocum azel 

v Farsetia hamiltorii E C. arich 

r Delphjni~m p. pubesce~s TL Isatis aleppica 

vNhS Rardocia af ri ceca T Ococis catrix filifolia 

r !:orsoria cjvea rMAS Pseuder~caria clavata 

Y~diclcal Plarts: 

Retama raetam 

Artemisia sp. 


Kanmals: 

t D~rces gazelle 

Sacd cat 

t Slerder-horred gazelle Saharac striped weasel 

t Aozdad (uccommoc) Browc hare 

t Hyera ( urcommoc) NA Cundi 

Jackal NA Shaw's jird 

Red fox 

NA Cerbillis campestris (gerbil) 

Sard fox 

NA Jaculus orientalis ( jerboa) 

Feccec fox 

Eliomys quercynus 

Birds: 


t Red kite 

t Peregrire 

Griffor vslture 

Sarbary partridge 

Tzrtle dove 

P5 r.-tsi led sacdgrouse 

Spotted sacd~rosse 

Galerid larks 


White wagtail 

Slack wheatear 

White-crowred black wheatear 

Mourcing wheatear 


Sparish sparrow 

Ravec

Influecces: 

Tataoui ne (~octicued) 

Hunticg and poaching: About 800 icdividuals 

Cultivatioc, overgrazing, erosioc, desertificatioc 

Soil Cocservatioc - Anti-Desertification work: 

Plantations (acacia, eucelyptus) , tabias, 

dirt windbreaks, pasture j.mprovemect, 

small parcel irrigation 

v Very Rare NAS = North Africac Sahara Ecdernic 

r = Rare NA = North Africa Ecdemic 

t * Threatened TL = Tacisia/Libya Erdemic 

T = Tscjsia Ecdenic E = Gracd Easterc Erg Ecdecic

Area: 610,000 ha 

U. TOZEUR 

Major Ecosystems: Subdesertic Contintal Steppe 

I,!ountain 

Chott 

Oasis 


Chotts Jerid acd El Charsa: Sections 3.3.2.13 & 14 

Oases: Tozeur, Nefza, Tamirza (section 3.7) 

Flora : 

I4aqujs: 12,000 ha degraded juniper 

Steppe: Artemisj a 

Halo~hile: 221.000 ha 

pare ard Erdenic Placts: 

r 1.Iocsocia civea rXA Gecista saharae 

r Delphicium oriectale TA Reseda duriaeaca 

J

5. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PROTECTION 

5.1 . GOVERNNEIJT INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE 

The Micistry of Agriculture is the governmect ageccy most respocsible 

for macagjcg acd protecticg biological diversity acd forests. Also 

providicg importact services are the Hicistry of Health, which iccludes 

the National Office of Rcvirocmectal Sacitatjoc. The National Educatiocal 

Rducatioc Ministry includes the Institute of Sciectific and Techcical 

Research (INRST) and its Cecter for Arid Zoce Studies (CEZA), and the 

Natiocal Envirocmectal Board, which advises oc ~cvirormental policy, 

legislatioc and other related activities. 

Ucder the Ministry of Agriculture are several Directorates charged 

with er.virocmecta1 protectioc acrl ecforcemect. These include (~ract 

igac) : 

Directorate of Forests (~irectioc des ~orets) 

Activities: Forestry legislation acd managemert 

Sub-Directorate of Hucting and National Parks (SOLS Dlrectloc de la 

Chasse et Parcs ~ati~ral) 

hctivities: Establishnect of catioral parks acd reserves 

Species protect5 oc 

Directorate of the Environmect (~irectior de 1'Ecvi rocrenert) 

Activities: Icpdt oc ecvirocmectal legislatior 

Establishmect of protected areas ard specjes 

Directorate of Water acd Soil Resources (~irectioc des Ressozrces er. 

Ea; et ec sol) 

Activities: Research oc erosior cortrol and hydrology 

Directorate of Fisheries (~irectioc des ~eches) 

Natio~al Scientific acd Techrical Institute of Ocfacographg acd 

Fisheries (~cstitut Katiocal Sciectifique et Techrique 

d'0ceacography et de Peche - I??STOP) 

Activities: Research on oceacography, fisheries, narice 

biology, aquaculture 

ORSTOM Mission to the Ministry of Agriculture (1:issjor. d'OSSTOF: eupres 

ds Micistere de lgAgriculture 

Activities: Studies on earth sciecces acd phyto-ecology 

Directorate of Research, Training and Instruct5on of Cadres (~irectioc 

de 1'Er.seigcernect de la Recherche et de la Fonatioc des Cadres) 

Includes: 

Katio~al Agrocomic Icstitute (~cstitut Natiocal Agrocomique de 

Tunisie - INAT) 

Icstit~te of Aerocimic Research (Institut kitiocal de la Recherche 

de T~cisie - IKRAT) 

I~stitute of Forestry Research (Icstitut Yatior.al de Iiecherches 

Forest) eres - I?!RF) 

Cer.ter for Research acd R~ral h'orks (Cectre de Recherches et d; 

Cerie ~;ral)

Arid Regiocs Institute (Icstitute des Regiocs Arides - IRA) 

Office of Ecvirocmectal AffaPrs 

Activities: Coordicatioc of all catiocal acd ictercatiocal 

ecvirocmectal affairs 

The Pasteur Icstutate (Institut Paateur de ~unis) cocducts research ix 

parasitology acd is coccerned with the impact of bacterial water 

pollutioc. The icstitute provides educatiocal informatior to the geceral 

pablic. There are also some quasi-governmeeta1 ageccies concerned with 

ecvirocmectal research and protection. These include the Uciversjty of 

Tucis (especially the Facdty of Sciences acd the Scientific Research 

~ecter), the Federatioc of Regiocal Hunticg Associatiocs acd the 

Assaciatioc for the Protectioc of Nature acd the Ecvironmect (~ssociatioc 

Txisiecce po;r la Protectioc de la Nature et de 1'Ecvirorxernect - ATPNE). 

The ATPIZ has the followicg furctiocs: 

a) Protect flora, fa:ca, soils, air and natural sites 

b) F;Slic cocservatioc edxatioc (especially yo~th) 

c) Cortribste to ecvirocrnectal protectioc legislatior 

d) Proaote creat5oc of cat~re reserves 

E) Callaborate with other cature protectioc orgarizatiocs 

f) Use all legal meacs to oppose projects that erdacger cature or 

~aturel eqzilibri~m. 

5.2. ?lo!: GOVEEYYS?!TAL ASSOCIATIOKS 

A roc-govercmectal orcithological associatioc called the Friecds of 

Birds (~ssocihtioc des kmis des Oiseaux - AAO) has formed ic Tacis. 

FenS~rs participate ic ecvironmectal educatioc acd protectioc, field 

ectlviti~s acd eccoGrage proper govemmectal protection meascres. 

A Hatiocal committee for the Mac acd the Biosphere (KAB) program has 

also beer orgacized. Biosphere reserves were desigcated ic 1977 at Bou 

Hedca, Ichkedl, Chambi acd Zembra. 

Several ictercatiocel cocservatioc orgarizatiocs acd assistacce 

ageccies have cocducted research acd provided cocsultacts ncd fucdicg for 

cocservatioc projects ic Tucisia. These jnclude: 

- Ictercatiocal Waterfowl Research Bureau (~c~lacd) : Cocsalticg, 

wetlacd projects 

- Ictercatiacal Couccil for Bird Protectioc (~cglacd) 

- \!orlawide F~cd for Nature (hPdF): Ichkezl Natjocal Park 

ecor~ssecn, 902 Hedna N. P. reictroductj ocs, wetlacd research (~eeiss) 

- i s 

' s : Ichkeil X.P. econusenn 

- ictt rmt5oczl Ucj or for Betzre Cocservatioc (~wj tzerlacd) 

- ?;r3?ear. Ecoconic Canaccity: Fscded Ichke~l water nacagenect studies

- Cernac-T~cisiac Society (CTZ) : Rou Hedme N.P. rnacagemect acd acjmal 

reictrodcctiocs; feccicg of reserves ('21 F'eid ja) ; forestry nacaeemect 

- Uciversity Collr~e Lordoc: Ichkeul N.P. rnacagsnert plac 

- Peace Corps: Assisted with 90s Korcice N.P. macagemeet placcicg 

- \!orld Sack: 2cvirocrnert-related loam 

5.3. EI:VI3O;!Z3:TAL LECISLATIOII 

D.;rlr.g the colocial period a ser. of legjslatioc was established for 

the prstectioc of the ecvironmect. After icdepecdecce these laws were 

mostly r~placec! or >ipdated (IUCI: 1987). Alt,hoiigh r.ot always ecforced, 

there erz e felr c~nbrr of p~st-color-ial laws t~ protect the ecvirocnect. 

Le;::sls~i3r. has beer passed protectice, or rre.daticg the use of: 

Fisheries 

~tlildlife/nildlar.ds 

Bor. recewable reso2rces 

Hezard2us s~ibst~arces 

Sol5 d waste disposal 

5~35 35 th2 ntrt inportact laws regardicg cocservatior. of biological 

d:versf ty ar? thv h;ctirc acd fishic~ reg~latiocs ocd those listed belor 

(alter: Grer.~ : 9G3) ; especially the forestry code. 

hcree :373 (sicce modified): regulates cor.servatioc acd ~tilizatior 

3f p-bl-c xsters. Prohibits discharge of pollutacts icto psblic domajc 

waters at? activ5ti~s liable to polliite water so.irces. 

A ::,ricipel la\: 2f ?xis prohibits discharge of ref~se or acy coxiozs 

s-bstbr.:? Srto car-als, sewers or rivers. Discharge icto the sea from 

to;~:s~ res3rts is proh4bi ted. 

Sigcatory to the Earce1or.a Cor.ver.tj3c cf the Kediterra~ear. Sea Agairst 

Poll.itiw (16 Feb. 1976). Agreed to coctrol dumpicg of poll~tacts from 

ships acd tc combat oil spills ar.d other harmful s~bstance pollstioc. 

Sigrat9ry to Protocol for the Protectior. of the 1.Iediterracear. Sea 

hgbirst ?~ll.itior from Lord Rased So~rces (1979). Agreed to coctrol 

r~lease 3f lard-based pollxitarts a ~ d to zljninate release of certaic 

specj fi ed cheni cals. 

?LCTL.' 

.,. .. 

.:,:c; 

I - - , A * u 

f: .--- eC; :"O): Or lar-d with a slop? > 2&, certair 1er.d 

,st-. c?:. !SF rrzhibjte:! Sr fav2r of c3rs?rvati3r of the vegetat5or. cover, 

krd,'sr :!.i lar..'zwr.Fr ctr tr rec~jr2d to c2rstrict soil ar.2 weter 

ccrs~rv::~: cr str;c t,rcs.

Law No. 58-105, 1958: Oc slopes > 2% agriczltural actjvities riast be 

carried o;t alorg the corto~rs ard erosior. cortrol neasiires must be 

implemerted . 

Law 80. 59-48, 1959: Ics~fficiertly or iradequately czltivated lard 

car be sequestrated (this cac work agairst ervirormer-tal cocservatioc). 

Forests acd Vegetatioc 

Law No. 58-83, 1958: Limits the raisicg of goats. 

Law l!o. 59-143, 1959: Promotes destructior of jujube trees (~izy~hos 

lotus. This law is detrimectal to the rative flora. 

- 

Lew No. 66-60, 1966: The Forestry cod^. Regslates the corservatioc 

ar.d exploitatior of forest resources, ircludirg reforestatior, dxe 

stabilizatior, acd esparto grasslacd nacagemert. Erables establishnert of 

ratiorel parks acd protected areas. 

RegAatiors cf 1966: Several regzlat5 ors corcerr.ir.fr the protectior of 

birds ard hxtirg. 

JO2T K3. 44, 198.4: Cereral policies of catiorzl pzrks. 

Art) cle 58-60, 1958: Forestry Legislative Texts. Crazlcg, shooticg 

ard fishirg csr be restricted ir protected amas. 

Article 58 of Tscisiar Law KO. 66-60 states that 'Kat~ral reg5cr.s or 

sectiors of regiors for which it is importart for sciectlfic reglors, ard 

characterized ir a gereral marcer of socj.al stility to asszre their 

mairteracce ir their ratural state car be desigrated rstio~al parks or 

analog reserves.' Parks and reserves are created by presidertial decree. 

Geceral macageme~t policies of catiocal parks were p2blished ir the 

Official Journal JORT No. 44 ic 1984. 

The Xicistry of Agricaltare is resporsible for adniristratioc ard 

macagemert of protected areas. The Directorate of the Envirormert is 

resporsible for geceral co-ordiration acd the Forestry Directorate is ir 

charge of admiristratioc ard macagemect (1~~11 1987). Ucf ortiire telg, both 

agercies are limited in staff ard ficarces, and cooperatioc betveer the 

two is poor. Karire reserves ard parks have beer ~rder the jcrisdtctjoc 

of the Conmisariat Cereral of Fisheries ocd the Eirjstry of Feferse sirce 

the islaras were occdpj ed by the military Ir 1979. 

Each ratioral park has ~r edniristrator ard sever~1 giar2isr.s assigred 

to pr9tect the site. Prot~cted reserves are the respncslSSllty 9f tke 

regioral foresters, game warders (~;ards de ~hasse) arc! specially asslqrec! 

gsardi er.s.

Figure 16 

Parks and Reserves of Tunisia 

Zembra N.P. 

Ichkeul N.P. 

Chambi N.P. 

Bou Hedma N .P. 

Bou Kornine N.P. 

El Feidja Reserve 

Hamada - Sidi Toui 

Proposed N.P. 

Galite Reserve 

Lake Tunis 

Protected Wetland 

Ain Baccouch 

Reserve 

Mhibes Reserve 

Kechem el Kelb 

Reserve 

Orbata Reserve 

Dar Chichou 

Reserve 

Jenein - Oued Ouni 

Proposed Biosphere 

Reserve

One of the goals of the catiocal park pzogram is to have a pa-b 

repzesecticg each of the major ecosystems ic Tucisia. There are cu-~ectly 

5 catiocal pa~ks, 2 pzoposed parks, acd 3 pzotected Feserves (figxe 16). 

Non-govexnent,al sowces have recomrnecded the establishmeet of additiocal 

protected areas at 19 othe:. locatiocs (IUCN l987), iccladicg the Da- Fatma 

bog, 2 lagoocs, 12 sebkhets acd chotts, 3 coastal a2eas acd K,-iate 

5slar.d. 

The facca and flora of most of the catiocal pazks and reserves are 

discussed ic sectioc 3. A good dizectory of the natiocal pa~ks acd 

reserves was produced by the IUCN (1987). 

5.4.1. Zembra Natiocal Park acd Biosphere Reserve 4030 ha 

The islacds of Zenbra and Zembl-etta we-e desigcated Tucisiavs first 

catiocal park ic 1977 by decree NO. 77-340. The ecosystem is described ic 

Sectior 3.: .2. 

A hotel acd Sucgalows were cocstzccted or Zemb-a acd iip to 200 people 

were p:esect daily ic the sumex befo-e 1979. The islards became a 

military base ic :979 acd all to~rism acd catiocal park nacagemect was 

halted (IUCC :967). Fron the :360s to 1976 the~e was a na-i time reseal-ch 

cente- OE Zenb-a, but it has beer. occupied by the Marice Nztiocale since 

:979. Some limited ~eseaxh has beec cocducted in recect yeaxi acd there 

are pxp3sals t3 -e-establish guided tos-s acd limited stags ox the 

islar2. 

1-!ilita-y coctrol red~ces the detrinectal effects oe the ecosystem 

caused by toirists acd fishernee, but the military persoecel themselves 

may be disrcpticg the ecvirocmect. Prima-y needs of Zembra rational park 

a x ccrre~tly the re-delegatioc of macagemeet to the Forest7 Directorate 

acd the assigcmect of adequate park persoccel. 

5.4.2. Ichkeul National Park acd B2osphere Reserve 10,775 ha 

Ltike Ichkeiil (~ectioc 3.3.1 .I ) acd Djebel Ichkeul (~ectlor 3.4.: .6) 

were established as a catiocal pa~k by Lav l!o. 80-1608 ic Decernbe: 19e0. 

Ichkeiil :!.P. is the ocly site ic the world to have the triple disticctjoc 

of beicg declared a biosphere reserve (1977), iccluded oe the list of 

Wetlacds of Icterxatj ocal Importacce (~amsaz Cocvectioc) and as a World 

Heritage site (: 980). 

Ac ecomuse.im (icfornation cecter) has beec cocstmcted oc Dj. Ichkeul 

with assistacce from the British l4usezm acd the WF. The miisem is 

irtecded to ed~cate the p.iblic about this very impo-tact ecosystem acd to 

prmote secsible tozistic iise acd awarecess ox the pa-t of local 

yesidects. 

The lake is the sicgle mst imp3-tact wetlacd for bi-ds ir Ir'3rth 

kf-ica, yet it is cu-rectly threatered by 6 dam p-ojects on the rfve~s 

tnat pxvide Ichkeil ~ i t h fresh wat~?. A -edoctioc ir f~eshwate- :r.pi;t 

wo-ld res-lt ir irc-eased saltwate- irp~t th~o3gh Oued Tirja. Chacges ic

5.4.6. Proposed National Park at El Fekdja 2517 ha 

There is currectly a 417 ha fecced to protect the barbary deer of El 

Feidja (~ectioc 3.4.1.1 ). The fecce was erected ic 1966 with the help of 

the CTZ. Sicce thee, there has beer almost co hsmac distzrbarce ic the 

reserve acd the deer populatioc has increased sigcificactly. To 

accornodate the iccreasirg deer populatioc and protect the rest of the 

diverse fama acd flora, a 2517 ha area is beicg cocsidered for a catioral 

park. The area is populated by about 160 families (IUCN 1987), bat the 

wooded portjocs are ucirhabited. 

Currect facilities at El Feidja irclude a forestry post with a small 

museum acd an ecclosure for holdicg icjured deer ard public display. If a 

catiocal park is cre~ted there will be ceed for a general nacagemect plac, 

a park headqaarters, staff, vehicles, remodelicg of the mixex, acd 

eqaipaect . 

5.4.7. Proposed Natiocal Park at Hamada ard Djebel Sidi Toui :2,003 ha 

Altho~gh 532 Fedna N.P. is ic ec arid regioc, a true desert ecosystem 

is missicg fron Tucisia's catioral park cetwork. Theyefore a rational 

park - biosphere reserve has beer proposed for the area araucd Djebel Sidi 

Todi (see Sectioc 3.5.4). The soath foot of the djebel has beec protected 

from grazicg for abo~t 20 years, with dramatic vegetztioc respocse, acd 

some of the last renaicicg dcspoilt steppe is ic the project area (IUCI~ 

1987). 

The GTZ, ATPIJE acd KAB committee are icvolved ic the research acd 

preparatory placcicg for the park. There is currectly ar experimertal 

statioc of the 5edecice IRA ir the area, where camel/vegetatioc 

icteractiocs ere beicg st~died. IRA fbcilities are likel:~ to be dsed 1c 

the future park. The catiocal coctributioc to the reserve has Seee 91,609 

m ~dcisiac Dicars. The bddget is dsed for persoccel, wells, racge 

improvemeet o~tside the reserve acd protectioc of the reservr, but ac 

additional 66,000 US dollars is still reeded for eqzipmect, traicjcg erd e 

cocs~ltart (!'.ic. Agr. : 985). 

5.4.8. Galiton Reserve 650 ha 

The islands of Galitoc (27 ha) acd La Fouchelle (14 ha) acd a 0.5 sea 

mile radi~s ic the Galite archipelago were desigcated as a strict cature 

reserve ic :980. There is jeternationally jmportact fauca, iccludicg monk 

seals acd cesticg Eleocora's falcocs ard ~udouin's gulls, or the 

archipelago acd diverse marice faxa, iccludicg red caral, thst is beice 

threeteced by the local pop-lati oc, visi ticg fi shermec acd recreatiocal 

divers (see Sectioc 3.1 .I ) . 

Better pjbljc avarecess of the reserve is ceeded, which vo-ld irclsde 

icstal1ir.e reg~letioc cotices or, the islacd of GalStf ar.d icfomir.~ aivicg 

outfitters. Ac ecforcemer.t staff should als3 be traiced ac? eqslpped. 

Eqaipnect wo-ld iccl~de 'zodiac' type boats acd mc1t31-s~ bicrc;;lars, 

radios a~d, ideally, divice equipmeet, so divice activSt5es cc-ld be 

moritored acd coral harvesticg acd spearfishicg could b~ pr~vected ic the 

reserve.

5.4.9. Lake ~unfs Prbtected Vetland 4500 ha 

Lake Tucis was designated a Protected Wetland ic 1980. This statas 

does cot recessitate habitat improvemect actions, although they are 

allowed; however, actions that degrade the envirocmect should be stopped. 

Lake Tunis is especially important because endangered birds (includicg 

marbled teal, white-headed duck and peregrine) and Smportart cumbers of 

other waterfowl and waders use the lake for feedjce and nesting. The 

close proximity to Tunis enhances the cocservatior education value of the 

lake. 

Ucfortucately, the close proximity to Tunjs also make the space 

valuable for development, and ic spite of the Protected Wetland status, 

over 900 ha have been filled to provide a locatioc for the constrdctioc of 

a new sectioc of cj ty. The project will evectually fjll over one-third of 

this importact wetlacd and the habitat quality of the rest of the lake may 

be degraded. 

The developmect project has advacced too far to be stnpped cow, so 

mitigatioc should be s o ~ ~ to h t imprwe the rest 3f the lake. Improvenects 

coeld icvolve iccreasing water circ2latjoc ic the lake or excludic~ hdmac 

activity aroucd the islacd of Chikly. 

5.4.10. Aim Baccouch and Mhibes Reserves 

Alocg the KromSrie mouctajc racge, a 90 ha a-ea at A i r Baccozch 

(sectioc 3.4.1.4) acd a 370 ha area at Mhibes (sectioc 3.4.1.5) have beec 

fecced to protect the ecdacgered barbary deer. Aic Baccozch coctains 50 - 

100 deer, which is a large herd for the size of the reserve, so there are 

placs to eclarge the reserve to 370 ha. Both reserves are domicated by 

cork oak forest acd Aie Baccouch cortaics some maritime pice. Cocticued 

mai~tecacce of the fences acd surveillacce of the reserves are carrect 

macagemect coccercs. 

5.4.1 1. Kechem el Kelb Reserve 303 ha 

Ic 1970 a reserve was fecced on the mouctaic adjacect to Djebel Chambi 

to protect the resident Cuvier's gazelles. Endangered hyecas also live ic 

the reserve. The fecce was erected to keep the humacs and livestock out, 

bat it does not keep the gazelles in, and some crop damage has beec 

reported by local farmers. Current management priorities icclude: 

maictecacce of the fecce, surveillacce of the reserve and ensuricg that 

adeq~ate food and water are available to the animals. A large water 

catchmect has been constructed to supply drickicg water acd palatable 

cactds has beer planted outside the reserve to draw the gazelles away f r ~ m 

fa.m crops.

5.4.12. Orbata Reserve 260 ha 

A 260 ha area at the base of Djebel Orbata was fecced ic 1969 to 

protect dorcas gazelles acd thejr habitat. Since thee, ostrSch acd 

Europeac daim were ictroduced to the reserve acd have been iccreasicg ic 

numbers. The gazelles, ostrich and daim are too numerous to be supported 

by the cat~ral vegetatioc, so small irrigated gardec plots are caltSvated 

to prodace alfalfa acd other forace. 

A cumber of acimals (mostly roc-cative) are kept ic a small zoo at a 

corn-er of the reserve to provide p~blic educatioc acd a recreatioc area. 

The adjacect moactaic is also protected from hucticg acd grazicg, but 

little active maca~eme~t is dore. 

5.4.13. Dar Chichou Managed Reserve 100 ha 

Ic 1964 a resf-ve was created et Dar Chichoc or the Cap Boc pecicsula. 

The 3 remaicicg female Ichkeul b~ffalo (see Sectjoc 2.4) were brozght to 

the reserve acd ac Italiac nale buffalo was inported to start a breedicg 

progran. The program was successfA acd a small herd was retalced at Dar 

Chichod whec the rest of the b;ffalr, were reictrod~ced to Ichkezl X.P. 

Ecopeac daim arf also kept jr the reserve. 

5.4.:4. Proposed Biosphere Reserve at Jeceic - Oued Ouci 360,000 ha 

A large area of S~bdesertic Cocticectal Steppe (~ectioc 

3.5.4) south 

of Remada has beer. recommecded to be established as a Biosphere Reserve. 

The area coctaics a variety of desert flore acd fazna threateced by 

caltivatioc, overgrazicg acd desertificatioc. Sjosphere Reserves are cot 

strict reserves througho~t, so a variety of projects desigced to ercourage 

sersible lacd use acd combat desertificatioc should be implemected. 

Currectly the project is rc?t a high priority of the Forestry Directorate.

6. SU!

Natiocal Parks acd Reserves 

1. Increased Fucdicg (N): Protected areas sho~ld receive higher priority 

5 c bsdget placr-j re. Fir-acci el ceeds icclzde : 

- Operatice b_dgets for each park 

- Salaries for or-site staff 

- Zqsipmect fzcds: vehicles, edmicistratior acd macagemert equipment 

2. Improved Public Access (D): To promote ervirormectal awareress each 

park sho;;ld have: 

- Ed~catioc prograns 

- Toarisn promotioc 

- Improved access roads acd facilities 

Ecosysten Protect? or 

. Coastal Zoces: 

A. P0l?iti3r. CO~:T~?: 

- Upgradt p3ll~tior coctr31 legislati3r 

- Strecgther. erforcernert 

- Frovf de t~ch~clogg ard neacs t3 co;sy,ly with leeislatiar. to major 

poll-tior- sources (chen. icdistries, public sewage K trash systems' 

B. Coral C3aot (XI: 

- St-2g ext=~t ard inpects of c3ral hzrvestjcg 

C. G A Y of Gtibes (ii): 

- Protectior of Kcejss ictertidal zoce (?referablv as a Ransar site) 

2. Galite Islacd: 

- (u) !:ock sezl st~t..i~ report a d crotectioc measures 

- (!!) Iccreesed grotectior of marire fa3xe 

Wetlacds: 

A. Lake Ichke~l (vu): The follo~icg amelioratior projects have beec 

proposed, b ~ fxicds t fsr inplemertatioc are lackice. 

- Fill the car~l ir the Djosnice marsh 

- Cocstr.ict e water coctrol sl.~ice ard overflow weir at O~ed Tinja 

- Release water from reservoirs whec lak~ level is below 10 cm ASL 

- Decide or firal cocservatjor strategy (may icvolve decreasing lake 

area by 20-35s) 

B. Sebkhet Kelbla (u): 

- Icitiate a pr9gran for water release fro^ upstream reservoirs 

C. Dar Fats,a Bog (I:): 

- Desigcatioc as a Protected Reserve 

- Ferce majctecerce 

- Cor.>lete flsra acd fa.;ci st;?? 

3. C-ed Essec (3): 

- Desljcatior. as a Pr~~ected :€serve for corservat5or. ed~cetjor

4. Mouataies: 

A. Boi Korcire G.P.: See also Recomnecdations for Part 11. 

- (c) Icstall forest protectioc fecce by Hammam Lif 

- (1:) Iccrease rnacagemert capacity throcgh provisioc of equipmect acd 

vehicles (total proposed park budget is approx. 175,000 Dicars) 

- (D) Icitiate ecviromectal ed~catjoc program, incladice ac ecomssecm 

(approxjnate cost 60,000 Tunisiac Dj nars) ecd trails 

- (D) Iccrease fama diversity thro~gh reictroductiocs fazca formerly 

fo.xd ic the park (aoudad, Cwier's gazelles) 

B. El Feidja (D): 

- Upgradicg of stat~s ard maaagemect to that of National Park 

C. 3jebfl Ichk~~l (D): 

- Removal of the qz6rrles 

D. Dtebfl Zaghc,ar. (2): 

- Iccrease z ~ d :pyrs?e protectior. 

5. Steppes: 

X. Art:-desert:fS catior. (vE): 1mplecer.t t h ~ Katloc~l Acti- 

dfsert5 f5 cati gr Ctretec;y (Uc. hgr. 1985); especially: 

- Ircrease d;re stbbilizatiac, erosi3c cortrol acd reforestati3c 

- ImFrovf racce naragemert acd agric~?t,ral practic~s 

3. 39; :'=dm2 ;!.?.(::): 

- Iccrease A.czcSa raddiara savacca protcctioc acd propagatioc 

C. Prc!pseflneeert !:atiocal Park (D): 

- Dfslgr.ctior- cf area as a catiocal park 

- Eq-iip for proper nz~agemect (estinated icitial cost: US 66,000)

PART I1 

TROPICAL FORSSTS 

Before the oligocece era the climate of Tucisia was tropical (~1- 

Hamrouci 1978). Fossil flora at Ichked cocsists of 265 tropical 

elemects, such as: 

Salj x cacariersis 

Cassia sp. 

Sapicdus sp. 

Pittospo-un sp. 

Diiricg the epoch of the Capsiecce civilizati3c, : 5,300 gears ag3, !hcjsia 

still had 1~x;rjais abxdart vegetati3c that s~pport.ed mar? specles of 

acimels that are co large- foxd ir. Africa ro-th of the Sahara fccludicg 

elephacts, rhinocg-aes, liors ard beax (3ir. For. : 376). 

Chacgirg climates, ircludirg the peri ods of the g~est glacjatiors, 

brought nary F'editerraceac, Saharar acd Fliropear elenerts acd ever. some 

boreal elemerts to the forest flora. The last great climate charge was 

7000 years ago. Sicce that time, nost of the charges Sc forest erea ard 

species comp3siti3r have beer ce~sed by mar. 

The presect climate ard domicect forest species a x Kediterraceac, bat 

theye are still some t-ee acd shrib species with tropical afficities. Two 

primsly remcarts of the txpical forests are thuya Callit-is a~ticiilata 

ard Chamae-ops hunllis; others irclade ( ~ e ~ e - i m h o f f r 

Zizyph~s (the gecGs ic gece~al) Rhus sp. 

Acacia ~addiara (~aha-o-tropi cel) Myrtus conmuci s 

Periplnca laevigata " Jasnicum fr~ticacs 

E~icaceaes (~rica a-borea grws ir Lyci~n SF 

sub-Saharec Af ri ce) Ficxs carica (ictrodaced) 

Of the above species, ocly th;ya acd Acacia raddiara are txe rative 

tree species, ard neithe~ form what ~oild be cocsidered tropical forests 

by mary deficitiors. However, accordicg to the deficitior used for FAA 

amerdments 118 acd :19 (state Cable 7183241, 1967) tropical forests 

include "all tree acd woody sh~ub formations, whethe? opec or closed, 

occurrirg ic humid, subhumid OY semi-arid u~lacds or lowlards". Roughly 

the ro~thex 25: of T~cisia is ir the ab3ve bioclimates, so the-e are 

about 4 rnillioc ha that coald scpport 'It-opical fo-ests" by the above 

defiritioc. Kzch of that lard is cultivated, developed or occupied by 

steppe vegetatioc, but there aY? c.680,000 ha with woody vegetatioc (Dir. 

For. 1976). Species ic those areas jccl~de thase previo~sly mectioced 

nithttrpical aff:ritles (except raddla~a, whlch occd-s 5r arid areas) 

acd all 3f the najor forest spec! es -"edi ter-arezr elerr.er.ts).

, PART I1

2. FOREST TYPES 

Ic the azea coccerced theye aye 368,000 ha of true cat~ral fo-est 

(domicated by tree species), but less thac 270,000 ha are ic good 

conditioc. The remainder of the 680,000 ha ie Occupied by artificial 

forest (plantatiocs) acd "maquis" (woody shrub f ormatiocs) . Major forest 

types include : 

A. Callitris articulata (thuya) c.30,000 ha 

Th~ya is a SW Mediterraceac species almost endemic to North Africa. 

Apart from the Magh-eb (~icisia, Algeria, ~orocco) there a-e ocly rare 

stacds ic SE Spaic acd Kalta. Optimum growth occurs ic Semi-arid 

bioclimates with a maritime icfluecce acd 400 - 500 mm arnual ~ajsfall. 

Ic Tucisia, thuya is distribated corth of a ljne from Ecfida to the east 

of Yedjez el Bab. This ircludes the soilth part of Cap Roc acd the 

northeast part of the Tucisiac Dorsal mouctain ranee, iip to Tebo~~ba acd 

Sbikha. Cap Boc is the easterc l i m i t of the racge of thiya ir North 

Africa. As the wooded areas of Malta are p~ogressively elimicated, the 

30,000 ha of th"ya ic T~cisia that a-e isolated f-om othe- stacds ic 

Alge-ia become iccreasicgly impo-tact to the racge of this remcact 

tropical species. Oftec g-owicg in associatioc with thaya are othespecies 

with tropical afficitjes, such as: 

Chanae-ops humilis (dwarf palm) 

Myrt~s commucis 

B. Qce-cus suber (co-k oak) c.80,000 ha 

This Vest Kediterracear species is foucd ic Portugal, Italy acd the 

Eagh-eb. Co-k oak grows best ic areas with light, heat acd acc;al 

rainfall g~eater thac 800 mm. Ic Tucisia it is most comoc or warn slopes 

ic the Kh-o~mirie/lrlogod mo~ctajc chairs of the northwest. ~egior., but the~e 

are also small stacds at Djebel Serdj, Dj. Tebou-souk and Cap B3z. Fzom 

ar. oyiginal racge of 130,000 ha there are now less thar. 55,000 ha of pyime 

cork oak forest - a 6 6 reductioc (D~F. For. :976). Ic the past trees 

were harvested for rail-oad ties, mice timbeze arid cha-coal. Oaks are 

still cut for timber, but harvestjcg is much better cortrolled. Cork is 

hazvested f-om mat;-e trees every 10-12 years and tacnice bark is obtaiced 

from older trees. Acorns a-e collected fo- domestic cocsumptioc acd 

livestock feed. Associated species with tropical affinities icclilde: 

Chamaerops humilj s 

Kyrtus communis 

E-ica (3 species)

C. Querc~s cacariecsis (Zen oak) c.10,000 ha pure 

Z E oak ~ is cative to Portugal, Spain and the Maghreb. The best 

growicg cocditiocs qre at altitudes higher thac 700m oe deep soils. Cool, 

moist ravines with cortherc exposures may contaic zec oak dour. to sea 

level. Ic Tucisia it grows in the most humid eoces of the Khroumirie 

mouctaics, espectally near the Algerian border. There are c.30,000.ha 

mixed with cork oak in addition to the pure stands. Zec oak produces 

better timber thac cork oak and therefore has been heavily exploited in 

the past. Ryrtus conmucis is commonly found in the ucde~story. 

D. Ouercus afares Groves 

This rare species is a North Africa ecdemic whose major distributioc 

is ic Algeria (:2,000 ha). Optimum growicg conditiocs are foucd ic Humid 

bioclinates above 900 m altitcde. There are some groves ic Tucisia at El 

Yeidja, El Chorra acd Aic Zaca, which are probably vestiges of ac acciect 

Q ~ E T C ~ afa-es S forest (~1-Hamrouci 1978). 

E. 3 2 ~ ~ ilex ~ 2 s (holm oak) Groves acd mixed 

Rativ~ to the cectral acd westex Mediterraceac basic, holm oak is 

conmocly foxd at altit2des higher thac 900 m. Ic Tucisia it oftec 

assumes a b~sh-like physiogr.omy acd grows ic aleppo pine donicated 

forests, but trees 6-8 in tall do exist. There are some small pure stacds 

at El Eelda (c3rth of Ghardimaod) and or mountaic tops. Ic the early 

7900s there uere c.20,000 ha of holm oak domieated forest (Dir. For. 

193). Harvesticg for fuelwood resulted ic the loss of macy of the pure 

stards acd iccreased erosioc. 

F. Quercas coccife~a (kemes oak) 

Racges from Portugal to Greece acd Forocco to Syria. Growicg best in 

Sub-h.imid, tenperate zoces (but foucd ic Humid to Semi-arid zoces) with 

maritime inflaerce, it usually is ocly 1-3 m tall. Occurs ic Tur3si.a ic 

frost-free coastal maquis from Tabarka to Hammanet and iclacd oc Djebel 

Macsour acd Dj. Teboursouk. 

G. - Picus picaster (maritime pice) c .5000 ha 

Ic Tucisia, maritine pice only grows naturally betweec Tabarka acd 

Algeria, but it has beer placted ic macy coastal areas. Ic catural stacds 

it is ofter ic associatior. with cork oak. The former racge was OveF 

:0,000 ha, biit a decisioc to cut all trees greater thac 1 m ic diameter ic 

the earl:; :300s -educed the quality acd area of the forests.

H. Pinus halipecsis (aleppo pine) 

Aleppo pine is the forest tree with the largest area ic Tucisia. It 

grows across the count-y, but is most comnoc ic the Tanisiac Dorsal 

mo&ctaics where the ancual rajcfall is 400 - 600 mm acd the bioclimate is 

Semi-arid or Arid. Conditions are most favorable near Kaaserice, and ic 

the High Tell rear Le Kef. The present area covered is only one-fourth of 

the catu-a1 racge of aleppo pine. Most of the reduction is due to human 

pressure for fuelwood, timber, agricultural land acd grazicg areas. Ir 

the cortheastex pa-t of its Facge, aleppo pine oftee grows in associatioc 

with Erica miiltiflora. 

- 

I. Cupressus sempe-yirecs f. cumj dice (~aktar cypress) Groves 

Yaktar cypress is corsidered endemic to Tucisia, but the-e are some 

do.;Sts ~egardicg its txie o-igic. There are only three small natural 

stards growicg ic the Kesse-a fo-est of the Tucisiac Do-sal mo~ntaic 

rarge, b-t it has been widely planted in windb~eaks. 

- Other forest species include ash Fraxin~s ac~ustifolia, elm Ulmus 

cam~estris, alder Alcus glaticosa and aspen Populas alba acd P. nigra. 

These species a-e connonly foacd along rivers in associatioc with pice or 

oak fo-ests. Small stards of rare Moctpelie- maple mocs~essulanum 

grow at the surmits of Djebel Zaghouac, Dj. 

Turisier Do~sal. 

Bargou acd Dj. Serdj ic the 

Deg-aded forests are oftec vegetated by maquis of shrubs ard low 

trees. Ic the north, heather Erica sp. forms a fairly lazge p-oportioc of 

the understory of cork oak forests. Vhec the oak is removed a maquis of 

heathe: yenairs acd icc-eases ic decsity. A commoc maqcis association on 

hot expositiocs ic s~bhomid to arid biocfimates is characterized by: 

Olea europaea (wild olive) Pistacia lentiscus 

Ce-atocia siliqua ( carob) Jasmicum frdticacs 

Wild olive and ca-ob are catego-ized as Nediterraneac elemerts ( ~ l 

Han-ouri 1978) with tropical affinities (~e~erimhoff 1941). The 

associatior. is f o ~ ~ ir d Sabhumid to Arid bioclimates where the yearly 

raicfall is from 200 to 800 m. 

Degraded aleppo pice fo-ests ofter. sapport a maq~is of Juciperus 

oxycedxs ard - J. phoe~jcja or. high slopes and summits OF rosemayy 

Rosna-lr,s offjcjcalis or the slopes and 1owlar.d~. There are c.300,000 ha 

of rosena-y maq~is ir T~risia, ofte~ mjxed with other forest associatiocs.

3. STATUS OF TUNISIAN FORESTS 

Ocly 3% of the coc-desert area of Tucisia is covered by forests. Evec 

if maquis are iccluded there is still only 6% covezage, which makes 

Tunisia one of the Mediterranean forests poorest in forests (~iz. For. 

1986). The optimum forest covezage for a country is 20% (~1-~amzouci 

1978). To attaic that level would require masstve reforestation efforts 

on 2,000,000 ha of lacd. Obviously this is ac extremely difficult goal to 

reach, especially since the tzend has actually beec toward defozestatioc. 

A gove-meet study (~ir. For. 1984) zeported 108,000 ha conducive to 

reforestatioc ic corthern Tunisia, of which ocly 56,000 ha aze trily 

likely to produce successf~l zesults fzom placticg. The yest of the areas 

available for reforestation aze eithe- heavily g~azed, salice oz desertic. 

Ir. 1910 forests cove-ed 1,250,000 ha, b ~ by t 7975 the area was reduced 

to 500,000 ha. Ic the Nogod mo.ict.aics ore-third of the fo-est cove- was 

removed ic 10 yeax with disast-02s cocsequecces for soil cocservation. 

FIuch of this loss car. be attribzted to the massive fo-est ha~vesticg 

operatiocs d~:ir.g the coloci.al period acd icacciirate s-rvey methods. 

Howeve?, betweec :975 acd :985 ac additiozal reductioc of 132,000 ha 

occi;??ed - a rate of ove- 73,OOC ha pe- yea-. A t the curreet rate, the 

forests of T~cisia coiild disappea~ ic less thac a cect-ry. 

Cazses of deforestatioc icclude poo- timber ha-vesticg pzactices, 

erosior., clearicg fo- ag~icclture acd grazicg lards and cocstact p-essure 

for forest products, sach as fuelwood acd forage. A t Djebel Semmama, ic 

the Tilcisiac Do-sal, 775 of the yearly forest productioc disappea~s to 

locel zesidexts (~1-~amroai 1978). kc estimated 7,336,000 cubic meters 

per year (OIJUPAA :985) are reeded to szpply the natiocal demacd for wood 

(87% of which is fuelwood). The potectjal sustaicable prod~ctjoc of 

485,000 ha of cat-ral ard artificial forest Is only 4.45 of the total 

demacd . 

Ic 7984 a total of 2,817,000 n' or 38s of the estimated demacd was 

taker from the forests, i~dicaticg a deficit ic accual forest productioc. 

Ac additiocal 360,000 m 3 

was imported (FAO 1996) to meet the denand for 

icdustrial wood, which still left 595 of the fuelwood demacd urmet. A 

demacd of that maccitude icvariably results in widesp-ead mauthozized 

fuelwood collection acd fo~est deg~adatioc. Othe- forest pzoducts 

harvested ic 1984 include: 

Cork 7,403,000 kg 

Rosemary 58,000 ha 

Kyrtiis comnilcis 9,000 ha 

Cape-s 4,500 ha 

Seeds (?ice) 

Dwarf palm 

32,000 kg 

> 353 toes 

Feather ( ~ ~ isp? c a uckcowr.

Betweec 1890 and 1973, 2.7 millioc ha of grazicg lands we-e put ucdez 

cultivation, fozcicg he~ders to brlcg the5r livestock to the forests to 

gzaze (~iz. For. 1976). Aftez the tzees or shrubs have beec cut, 

ictecsjve grazicg by domestic livestock disrupts the regeceratioc process. 

Grazicg also occars ic umu stands, stopping the natural replacement of 

old acd dyicg t~ees. In 1976 more thac 50% of the pine acd oak were of 

declicicg age; therefore, 20 - 5% should have been regenerated. 

From 1962 to 1984 ac average of 9400 ha/yeaz were planted (OMJPAA 

l985), but this practice has beec chacging the f orest species composition 

and still falls short of the deforestation rate. Trees commonly selected 

for placting are fast g-owing noc-cative species of eacalyptus, acacia acd 

pice. Some species native to Tunisia are placted, but often this is doce 

outside the coma1 racge of the species.

4. FOREST PROTECTION 

A cuxect policy of the Forest? Diyectorate is to desigrate 20dn of 

all forests as regeneration forests, thus prohibiting grazicg and 

harvesting of foyest products. Reforestatjor or, public lards is beir,g 

iccreased to icc-ease the ha3estable resource and to cortrol erosioc. Ic 

addition, law 66-256 of 23 December 1986 requjres that at least % of the 

area of each private property be reforested. While these policies and 

laws me good ic theory, the actual results have faller sho-t of their 

goal due to ficaccial, administrative, demographic acd sociological 

problems. 

Ic order to cocserve some of the importact forest areas acd thei: 

associated flora acd fama, seve-a1 reserves ard ratixal parks have beer 

established. Those protected areas are discussed ir Sectlor 5.4 of Pa-t I 

(~iological Diversity survey of Taisia). 

The 'tropical fo-ests' of Tarisia co;ld be imp-ovei 3- pxtectsd by 

assistirg with plarricg,traicjng, equipmert acd staff ir the a-eas of: 

Refo-estatioc (icc-eased yea-ly pla~ticg of app-opriate species) 

Proper forest macaqenert ( placcicg , p ~otec tior, fo-est. improvement 

practices) 

Species selectior (placticg species compatible with the ratural 

ecosystems) 

Upgradicg protectioc of rese-ves ard parks (see biological 

diversity arcex). Of special icterest ic regard to troptcal 

forests is Boz Korrire Natiocal Park, which is domirated by thuya 

forests. A Gece-a1 Maragement Plar acd budget have beer proposed, 

biit rot implemerted due to lack of firacces.

GLOSSARY 

Anatid - Sirds of the Anatidae family; specifically, swans, geese ard 

ducks. 

Archipelago - A g-o~p of islacds. 

ASL - Above Sea Level; used ir place of FGT (~iveau General de ~unisie). 

Djebel - The arabic tern for mourtair. 

Carrlgue - The frerch tern for opec, low brushfields composed of woody 

plarts oftec less thac 50 co tall. 

Halophlle - Salt tole-act placts. 

Halophyte - Plarts with high salt cxcect,:atj ocs ic thel? leaves. 

Herpetofauna (als3 fierpss) - Reptiles acd amphibiacs. 

Hygrophile - P1act.s that g?ow or. wet soils. 

Maghreb - The a~abic tg-n fo- the regioc of No-th Africa iccludicg 

Mohcco, Alge~ia ard T,cisia. 

Maquis - The f~ecch tey. fo? decse bzushflelds donirated by small trees 07 

sh~ubs fzon 2 to 5-8 n tall. 

Nitrophile - Placts that ow best. or soils with high cltzogec 

coccectra tiocs. 

Olea-lectiscus fonnatior - A plact associatioc dominated by europaea 

acd Pistecia lertisczs. 

Oued - The azabic tezm f o rive?. ~ 

Sirocc6 - Fot, d-y wicds that origicat~ ic the Saha-a. 

Sward - Opec a-eas domirated by low woody plants; shorte? and sparser thar 

ir garrigues. 

Waders - Bi-ds that feed OR shorelines OF wade icto the watez; iccludes 

birds comnocly called shorebirds. 

Waterfowl - Ic this text the tern iccliides most bizds that ~sually swim 

while feedir.~: Acatids, coots, moo~hecs, etc. 

Xerothermic - Plarts tole-act to d-y cocditiocs.

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Azocz, A. 1975b. Les fords chalctables de la regioc cord de la Tmisie. 

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A N N E X E S 

1. Rare, Very Rare acd Endemic (partial ~isting) 

Placts of Twisia 

2. Mammals of Tunisia 

3. Birds of Tunisia 

4. Heiligechafen Criteria

ANNEX 1 

RARE, VERY RARE AND ENDEMIC (PARTIAL LISTING) PLANTS OF TUNISIA 

r = Rare 

v = Very Rare 

7 = Tixisia Erdemic 

TA = Tixisia/klgeria Ecdemi c 

NA = North Africa Ecdemic 

NAS = Eorth Africar Sahara Tndenic 

S = Sahara !?cdenic 

A = Algeria Erdemic 

K = Krozmirie Conrtaics 

M = Mog~d Koxrtaics 

TD = Turlsiar Dorsal !loantairs 

VY = Wedjerda valley 

CB = Cap Bor. 

KE = N~rtheast Tiicisia 

TC = Central Turisia 

TS = Soctherc Tucisia

ANNEX 1 

RAEE, VERY RARE AKD ENDEMIC (~aztial Listlng) PLANTS OF TUNISIA 

Species Status Distribution 

Abutiloc theoph-asis 

Acez morspessulanum 

Aegil~ps t-iixcialis 

Agzopyzoc repecs va-. glaucum 

Agrostis reute-i 

Aizqsis terella 

A juge reptacs 

A l l j a-ia officinalis 

Alopec~zis myos~~oides 

A. p~atecsls ssp. brachystachys 

Altexrthe-ti sessi lis 

Althaee ludxigii 

A. officical-s 

Alyssa sc;tli;e~~n 

bnaxcth~s gyacilli s 

Anbe-coa c~~piroiaes va- lybica 

Acabbsis aphylla ssp af~icaca 

X%acycl;s valer.ticss 

Acegallis terelle 

A. m~rellf sse collica 

j.cti-~tic.~~ b?fvi f 3 l i ~ 

bed-ocgmb:za g-amire.im 

krch.isa aegyptcaca 

Ard-opogo~ distachyus 

Acthsals EoctEra 

A. cot~la 

Acthoxarth2m g-acile 

Articc-la ac-osti dea 

Acti?hiczx ~anosissj ocam 

Acvill~a 7adiat.a 

A. F. vz? ezstxlis 

Apera icte~~upta 

A-abls verca 

A. pa-vula 

A. p-bescecs 

Arerazia ma~gicata 

A. g-andiflo-a 

Aristida zcitiflo~a 

Artemesis vilga-is 

AXE-ie spic~losa 

A ? x i 3 ~licij 

asphodel,^ aca~lj s 

Asylerj 2- pet~a-chae 

Aste7 t5 ?Dl: v- 

Ast~?l s c ~ ~7avenler.s 

s 

K, NE 

TD 

TD 

TD 

K,TD 

CBK 

K 

K 

TC 

K ,TD 

r< 

TS 

TS 

TD 

?: E 

TS 

TS 

TS , TC 

K 

NT, TD 

TC,TS 

TC , TS 

TS 

K ,B! 

TD 

TC 

K ,NE 

K 

TS 

TS 

TS 

K 

TD,K 

TD 

K 

TC 

TD 

TS 

M 

TC, NF: 

TD 

TD 

C B 

TS

Annex 1 (~onttnued) 


Astragalas gombiformis 

A. crrlciatas ssp. aristjdis 

A. falciformis 

A. m~nspessulacus 

Astrocarpss sesamoides 

Atriplex tatarica 

Avelliria michelii 

Avera locgiglumis 

A. fatiia 

Ealarsea glaberrima 

Barbarea vdgaris 

Eellevalia ciliata 

Elechc.m spicart. 

Bothriochloa ischaem7m 

Brachiari a mdtica 

Brassics dimorpha 

Brassica cretica ssp atlantica 

Brmzs racernosus ssp commutatus 

5. sq-a^. --osi;s 

9. irt2rn2d.x 

B-fforia te~cifolia 

Edci-m crassif oli~m 

Biplezrin f~dti cosum 

B,tom~s ambellatas 

Calerd;la rnorardi 

Campackla filica~lis ssp reboudiaca 

C. atlactica 

Cardanice graeca 

Carex depressa 

C. flacca var eu-glauca 

C. hordeistichos 

C. pallescecs 

C. pseudo-cype.ais 

Carthanus calvatus 

Carm moctacum 

Castacea sativa 

Cectsarea amara ssp acgustifolia 

C. a. ssp. ropalor 

C. ciceraria var gymcocarpa 

C. eriophora 

C. seridis var naritima 

Cert-rc-las bri ~imus 

C~rtisti.im caespitosu~ 

Certitophyll~-n s2bmers~n 

Chaetorychiz cymosa 

TS 

M 

TC 

C B 

TS 

TS 

K 

K 

TD 

K 

N E 

K 

TD 

T 

K ,TC 

TD 

TC,K 

TD 

C B 

v I$ 

11 

NE, CB 

T C 

TS 

K 

K 

C B 

TD 

K 

TD 

TD 

K 

K 

NE 

CB 

C B 

TC, TS 

CE 

K 

KT , TS 

c3

Annex 1 (~octicued) 

S~ecies Status Distri butioc 

Chord~illa juccea 

Chqsacthemum claiisocis 

Cicho-ium irtybus ssp. eu-ictybus 

va:. glab-atun 

Cistus villosiis var tauricus 

Cleocea lasitacica 

Colchicm ~itchii 

C. a~tarncale 

Cocvavdas cceo:am 

C. hailis 

Co-scilla atlartica 

C. valectica ssp pectaphylla 

Co-ycephoxs a-ticalatus fascicalatus 

C3722, ra2dir.j i 

Cotoreaste? ~acemiflo-a 

C-epis cla~sccis 

C. tccetaca 

Crypsis zc~leata 

C. s?opec,?oides 

Ctfcopsis pecticella 

C~tacdle philistaee 

Cypexs polystachi~s 

Cyclarec af~icacum 

C. pexicxn 

Cycos2-is pflt5a:i 

C. elegacs ssp obliquatus 

~ ~ s t 3 ~ t filix e - i ~ fragilis eu-fragilis 

Cytiszs nocspeliecsis 

r 

r 

Dactylis gl~ce-ata va- typica 

Delphicjam balacsae 

Diarthus rcpicola 

Dichacthlam acealetun 

Diplotaxis ac-is 

Do~ocicun atlartic~m 

Dorycici~m pertaphyllurn 

Draba hisparica 

Dyyopte-is f5 lix-mas 

I!. 6cilfta 

D. villa-sjS

Annex 1 (continued) 

Species Status Distrj butioc 

Echium arecarium 

E. suffruticosum 

Elatice absinastrm 

E. hydropiper var pedunculata 

Ecceapogon brachystachyus 

E. scaber 

Ephedra major 

Eragrostis trichophora 

Erigeroc trilobus 

Zrodium pachyrrhizum 

E. mucbyaccm 

2. naritim-m 

Ecphorbia allepica 

E. amygdaloides var bieccis 

S. etlactica 

3. bismbellata 

E. paciculata 

E. sqaamigera 

Exaculun psillum 

Fel-~la tdcetana 

Fest ;ca pacicula ta 

Filago heteractha ssp cupaciaca 

Forestia hamiltocii 

Fragaria vesca 

Frackecia corymbosa 

F. pallida 

Fiimaea calycica 

F~maria bicolor 

F. macrosepala 

F. decsiflora ssp. bracteosa 

F. parviflora 

Galizm pusillum 

G. verticillatun 

Gecista saharae 

G. microcephala var gecuina 

G. m. var tur,etaca 

G. ulcica 

Geracium clumbicum 

G. pyrecaicum 

Geun urbacum 

Glices lotoides 

Gcaphalium luteo-albm 

Ganphocarpus f~"ticoscs 

Gocidimoc tartar5 cum 

T C 

TC 

K 

H,CB 

TC 

TS 

TD,TS 

TC, CB 

TS 

K 

C B 

CR 

NE 

K 

K , Vi.; 

K 

K 

CB 

K,M,CB 

TC , TS 

K 

K 

TS 

K 

TC ,TS 

TC , TS 

TD 

K 

TD 

TS 

TS 

TD 

TD 

TS 

K,CB 

T D 

K 

T C 

K 

TD

Accex 1 (~octicued) 

Species Status Dist-ibstioc 

Halogetoc alopecuroides 

Hedysa~um humile var fontacesii 

Heliacthemum heliacthemoides 

H. rosmaricifolium ssp ehrembergii 

H. salicifolium ssp ictermedium 

H. vescariciim 

Helioscacdium inucdatum 

Heliotropim luteum 

Hemarthria compressa ssp altissina 

Heteropogoc contortis 

Hippoczepis hzmide 

H. micoy ss?. brevipetala 

Holciis setosus 

Hypecoum procumbees ssp duyiaei 

Hypericzm acdrosaemiirn 

Hyoscyarnas ciger 

Iocopsj dim albif lorcm 

Iyis foeti djssma 

I. siibbiflora 

I. Ucgnlculeri s 

I. xiphiurn 

Jasio~e hamilis 

Juccus subcodulosus 

Kcautia a~vecsi s 

Koeleria rohlfsij 

K. splecdecs 

Lactaa muralis 

L. viminea va- chondrilliflo-a 

Lamiiim bifid;im 

L. mauritacicum 

Lapsana comrnur.is ssp macrocaypa 

Lasiopogoc muscoides 

Lathyr~s accuus 

L. articulat~s ssp eu-clymecum 

L. brachyod~s 

L. cissolia 

L. cumidicas 

L. setifolius 

L. ciger 

Laicaea argustifolia va? sq;arrosa 

L. acacthoclada 

Lava te-a f lava 

L. pxctata 

L. stecopetala


Species Status Distributioc 

Leersia hexacdra 

Leoctice leoctopetalum 

Limociastram guyociacum 

Limocium spathula turn 

L. boita~di 

Licaria aegyptiaca ssp battaedieri 

L. anecsis 

L. cossocj 

L. cymbaleria 

L. Cissita 

L. elatire 

L. flava 

L. miro: 

L. paradoxa 

L. pedixcilata 

L. pellecererla 

L. pin~ifglia 

L. Teflexe vaT. doumeti 

L. vi-gata ssp alge-iecsis 

Licyz corymbifera ssp. aristides 

L. ccqmbifezn ssp. 1anbeszr.um 

Loll-? temclertun 

Lotiis cocj mbrj cecsis 

L. creticis ssp cornmutatus 

L. d-epacocarpus 

LzdwiLgia palast~is 

Lzz-la campestris 

Lycopsis o~iectalis 

Lysiriachia coisiriaca 

Ly thr~m cmmalacf olium 

Magydaris paracifolia 

Kactisalca salmactica 

Earesia malcolmioides 

Narrubium aschersocii 

Karsilea aegyptiaca 

Ratricaria tridectata 

Medicago arabica 

E. hispjda var microdon 

F!. h. va-. reticulata 

1-7. h. var. brachyacactha 

R. t-berculata 

Eelica ixiflora 

7?elllotus elega~s 

!!ertha loqj f olis 

Koliciz ceexlea 

!?olucellz spirosa 

rIJA 

r 

NAS 

v 

T 

r 

r 

T 

" 

vl?A 

r 

v 

. . 

vT 

v 

v 

rNA 

rT 

. 

v 

" 

rN A 

r 

r 

" . 

r 

. 

. . 

r 

vNA 

r 

v 

v 

rNA 

T 

r 

rNA 

" 

. 

" . 

r 

r 

r 

. 

" . 

v 

. 

v

Ancex 1 (continued) 

Species Status Distzibutioc 

Mocsonia civea 

Moretica cacescens 

Myosotis micra~tha 

M. pusilla 

Kyriophyllum spicatum 

Na-dxus ma~itimus var aristatus 

Kepeta alge-iecsis 

h'. ap-dei 

Bigella a~vecsis 

Xynphea alba 

Odoctites fzadici 

Oligone-is lici folia 

Onphalodes licifoli a 

Ocoby~chis cap~t-galli 

Ococis alepecuroides 

0. biflora 

0. mitissima 

0. at-ix ssp. filifolia 

0. per.d;;la 

0. rosea 

0. viscosa ssp sieberi 

Oc~pordoc acaule 

Orosna echicetdm 

Oph~s atlanti ca 

0. scolopax ssp. corcuta 

Orchis locgicornu 

0. elata 

0. palust-is 

0. sinia 

Oryzopsis paradoxa 

Paccratum foetidum 

Parocychia chabloziaca 

Pegan~m harmala var. garamactum 

Peccisetum dichotomum 

Phleam phleoides 

Phlomis bovei 

Phyllitis scolopecdri~m 

P. hemi ocitis 

Picls picestfr 

Pla~tago cn~ocop~s ssp purpurescecs 

P. t~retace 

Potanogfto~ decsus 

P. lacecs 

P. catar.s 

T S 

TS 

TD 

T S 

CB 

TD 

K 

K,NZ 

TC 

K 

1: 

TS 

fJ E 

K,TC 

RE, TD 

K ,N 

1iE 

TS 

T C 

TD 

T S 

TD 

TD 

K,CB,TD 

NE , TD 

T C 

T S 

TS 

TD 

M 

K 

TD 

K 

C R 

Tn 

TS 

TD 

v I.?

Ancex 1 (~octtcued) 

Species Status D i s t ~ butior i 

Potectilla micrantha 

P. supica 

Prosopis stephaniaca 

Pseuderucaria clavata 

Psilums incurvus 

Pteris locgifolia 

Pulicaria crispa 

htoria calabrica 

Pyr~s sysiaca 

Querczs afares 

Bacdoria af ricaca 

Rapistxn rugosum ssp eu-rugosun 

Rar~cc.~lus falcatus ssp eu-falcatus 

R. f. ssp. ircu:vus 

R. pa~vLflorzs 

R. sclerat~s 

Reseds lutea ssp ~u-lutea 

R. alphocsij 

R. dcraeaca 

Eharnc~s frargula 

Rosa ag~estis 

R. gallica 

R. micractha 

R. stylosa 

?.iib,s iccarescecs 

Rumex pict~s ssp bipiraatus 

R. taretarus 

Rycchospo-a glauca 

Saccharm ravemae 

Sagica apelata ssp ciliata 

Salpichroa rhomboidea 

Salvia jamiciara 

S. phlornoides 

S. sclaraea 

S. ticgitaca 

Sambcc~s ebulus 

S. cige: 

Sacguiso~bia spicosa 

Satu:eia fortaresii 

Saxifraga dichotona 

Scab) osa orecata ssp typica 

S. fe?icosa 

Scill~ obt"sifo1ia 

Sclerochlora ddra 

TS 

l!!?,TC 

TD,TS 

TC , TS 

CB, K 

NE,TC 

NE, TD

Ancex 1 (continued) 

Species Status Dist~ibutioc 

Scleropoa hemipoa 

Scorzocera laciniata ssp intermedia 

Sedum tuberosum 

Sececio ciceraria var typicus 

S. foliosas 

S. jacobea asp barbarae-folies 

S. livj dus 

Serapias licg~a ssp durioei 

Seseli naaum 

S. varium var atlacticum 

Ser~atula ~j.cca tifida 

Sheco~ls eh-ecbergii 

Side-itis ixcaca var. t~cetaca 

Sieglicgia decumbecs 

Silece atlactica 

S. barrattei 

S. cerastoides 

S. cocica var a.astralis 

S. mollissirna 

S. ceglecta 

S. sedoides 

Sisynb~ium polyce-atum 

Solacum dulcamara 

S~lidago virga aurea 

Sorbus aria 

So~ghm halepexse 

SpargarAum erect.,im 

Spartica paters 

Specilaria hybrlda 

Spergzla arvecsis 

S. pentacdra 

Spergdaria salica var leiosperma 

Sporobolus tourceuxii 

Stachys duriaei 

S. ma~itima 

S. max-ubifoliom 

Stipa foctacesii 

Stellaria holostea 

Succowia baleariea 

Tamarix balacsea 

Taraxacm abovatin 

T. microcephalum 

Teesdalia crocopi f ~ la j 

Telephim sphaerospemum 

TC 

TD 

CB 

CB 

NE,I.:,CB 

CB 

NE 

TD 

TD,TC 

FD 

TC ,?S 

i( 

TD 

TD,?C,?S 

TD 

CB 

KR, CE 

C E 

c 3 

Y,TD 

K 

9D 

TI! 

C E , 1.: 

T C 

!JE ,TC 

K 

TD 

TC, TS 

T S 

TD 

K 

K 

T D 

K 

TD, CB 

9 S 

TD 

TD 

K , V!. 

3s

Annex 1 (~onticued) 


Teucrizn atratum 

T. poli~rn ssp. flavovi~ens 

T. pseudo-sco-adonia 

T. radicans 

T. schoe~e~be-gri 

Therneda tria~dra 

Thymelaea tartorraira var genuina 

T. sempe-virecs 

Tolpis ba-bata ssp eu-barbata 

Tragopogor. porrif olics var aus tralis 

Trapa r.at.acs 

n - 

1- etadi cl5 s tecal?~ 

m-. lfoli.~~. jzliari 

T. sqca::cs.;n ssp. tilretac~n 

T. st~iat~n 

Trigl3chj r ma:itjx-m 

'?:igorella gladiata 

Tulipa cl"siace 

Valeriacells cl-.lo:od3cta 

V. pimill2 

Verocica cymbalaria var parormit.aca 

V. se:pylllfolla 

Vicia alsissina 

1'. becghaler-sis 

V. bithgcica 

V. dispe-a 

V. fi%:~2~& 

V. sictila 

V. tetrasperna ssp. tetrasperma 

V. villosa ssp dasycarpa 

V. v. ssp. pseudo-c~acea 

Viola rnmbyaca 

V. odorata 

Wahlecbergia iobelj oj des 

K 

TS,TC 

M 

H 

v P: 

M,NA 

TD 

TS 

K ,I.I 

TD 

N E 

TC ,TS 

TD 

TD 

K ,TD 

NE 

TD 

1.1 E 

3 

h? 

TD 

TD 

TD 

K 

K,M 

CB,TC 

TD, K 

C B 

TD 

K ,CB 

TD 

TC ,TS 

TC , NE 

TD 

TD 

TD 

NE 

K 

TD 

TD

A. Species Presect 

Commor. Nane: 

Comrnoc dolphic 

Kock seal 

Water buffalo 

Barbary deer 

Dorcas gazelle 

Cuvier's gazelle 

Slecder hoxed gazelle (rhim) 

Aasdad (barbary maxtaic sheep) 

Wild soar 

Barbary hyeca (striped hyeca) 

Comoz jackal 

Red fox 

Sad fox 

,Per.cec ff;x 

Kaffir cat 

Soitherr Kaffir cat 

Sar.d cat 

Caracal 

Serval 

Lycx 

Otter 

Egyptiac Eocgoose 

Conzor gecet 

Saharac striped weasel 

Weasel 

Europeac polecat 

Striped polecat 

Brovr hare 

Europeac rabbit (NA subspecies) 


Desert hedgehog 

White hedgehog 

North Africac elephact shrew 

Shrew sp. 

Shrew sp. 

Bat 

I, 

ANNEX 2 

MAMMALS OF TUNISIA 

Scientific Name: 

Status: 

Delphinus delphi s 

Mocachus mocachus 

C 

Bubalis bubalis 

(i)c 

Cervus elaphus barbarus 

tC 

Gazella dorcas 

tC 

G. cavieri 

tC 

G. leptoceros 

tC 

Ammotrag2s lervia 

Sus scrofa barbarus 

t C 

Hyaeca hyaeca 

Cacis eureLs 

V~lpes vilpes 

V. ruppelli 

t C 

Fernecq~s zerda 

C 

Felis sylvestris libyca 

F. s. ocreata 

C 

C 

Felis margarita 

Caracal caracal 

C 

r 

Leptailzrus serval 

?C 

Lyrx lycx pardirius 

?C 

Lutra lutra 

Herpestes jchceumoc 

Cenetta gecetta 

rC 

Poecilictus libyca 

C 

Mustela civalis 

C 

Mustela putorius 

?C 

Ictocyx striata 

Lepus capecsis 

?C 

Oryctolagas car.j.cillus algiris NA 

Erinaceus algi rus 

Paraechicus aethiopicus 

Aethtchicus algirus ?C 

Elephantulus rozeti 

Succus etruscus 

Crocidura russula 

N A 

Fliropterils schreibersii C 

Pipistrellis pipistrellis 

Rhicolophus rnehelyi 

C 

R. euryale C 

R. ferrum-equicum C 

R. hipposideros C 

Myotj s blythioxygcathus 

14. myotis 

Ept,esicus seroticus isabellircs 

Plecotus austricacus aegypticus

Acnex 2 (Cocticued) 

Comnor Kane: Sciectific Name: 

North Africac crested porcupine Hystrix cristata 

Gucdi Ctenodactylus gwdi 

Shaw's jird Kerioces shawj 

Libyar: jird K. libycus 

Jird sp. M. crassus 

Gerbil Cerbillus campestris 

also Di.podj.llus campestris 

C. cacus 

G. simoci 

C. gerbillus 

I 

,, 

C. pyramj.d;lm 

Pachynroinys d-prasi 

Sac? rat 

Psammonys obes.2~ 

Black rat Rattus rattus 

Paln rat R. alexacd ricus 

),!orway rat R. norvegicus 

Striped rat Lem~iscomys barbards 

Lesser Egyptiar jerboa Jaculus jaculus 

Jerboa s?. J. oriertalis 

Field mo-st? Apodenus silvaticils 

'Leror' Eliomys quexycus 

3. Large Kamnals Extirpated From Tcrisia 

Scientific llame: 

Addax (recertly reir-traduced) Addax casomaculatus 

Scimitar-horred oryx " Oryx dammah 

Hartebeast Alcelaphus buselaphx 

Cheetah Acicicyx jubatus 

Sarbary lior. Pacthera leo 

Barbary leopard Panthera pardus 

Barbary ape Kacaca sy lvaca 

North Africac elephact (1 st cert .) Loxodonta africaca 

r = Rare 

t = Threatened 

C = CITES list 

!:A = Korth Africa Rrdenjc 

? = Rep~rted jc ljterat~re, bzt csrrezt preserce 2s 

quest.iorable 

Status: - ...

Conmor Name: 



Little grebe 

Ma~x shearwater 

Cory's shearnater 

Storm petrel 

Garret 

Shag 

Cornoract 

Pygry cormoract 

Grey heror 

P;rple herw 


Ll ttle egret 

Cattle egret 

Sqiacco heror 

!light heroc 

Little bitterr 

Bitterc 

Spor.bil1 

Glossy ibis 

!;kite stork 

Black stork 

Greater flanicgo 

3ar-headed goose 

Snali goose 

Grfylag goose 

Sear goose 

White- frorted goose 

Eercacle gaose 

Shelddck 

Raddy shelduck 

Mallard 

Gadwall 

k'igeor. 

Teal 

Gargarey 

Pi~tail 

Shoveler 

Marbled teal 

Red-crested pochard 

Tiifted duck 

Pachard 

F~rr-gicais d~ck 

ANNEX 3 

BIRDS OF TUNISIA 

Scientific Heme: 

Podiceps cristatus 

P. nigricollis 

Tachy baptus ruf icollis 

Puf ficus puf ficus 

Calonectris diomedea 

Hydrobates pelagicus 

Sula bassa~a 

Phalacrocorax aristitelis 

P. carbo 

P. pygmeus 

Ardea cicerea 

A. purpurea 

Egretta alba 

E, garzetta 

Bubulcus ibis 

Ardeole ralloides 

Nycticorax r-ycticorax 

Ixobrychus mirutus 

Botaurus stellar5 s 

Platalea leucorodia 

Plegadis falcicellus 

Cicocia cicocia 

C. cigra 

Phoecicopterus xber 

Acser j~dicus 

A. caerulescecs 

A. acser 

A. fabalis 

A. albifrocs 

Brarta leucopsis 

Tadorca tadorpa 

T. ferrugicea 

Anas platyrhynchos 

A. strepera 

A. penelope 

A. crecca 

A. querquedula 

A. acuta 

A. clypeata 

A. angustirostris 

Netta r~flna 

Aythya fulig~ila 

A. feri~a 

A. cyroca

Conmoc Name: 

Red-breasted merganser 

White-headed dilck 

Osprey 

White-tailed eagle 

Red kite 

Black kj te 

Black-shouldered kite 


Sparrowhawk 

Levact sparrowhawk 

Eczzard 


Hocey buzzard 

Eorelli.' s eagle 

Booted eagle 

Gqldec eagle 

Lesser spotted eagle 

Tawy eagle 

Egyptiar vulture 

Bearded valtare 

Lappet-faced vultare 

Griffoc v-lture 

b!arsh harrier 

Hec-harrier 


Fo~t.agi' s harrier 

Saker falcor 

Lamer falcoc 

Peregrice 

Barbary falcor. 

Eleocora' s falcoc 

Hobby 

Merlir. 

Red-footed falcoc 


Kestrel 


Quail 

Crace 

Demoiselle crane 

Acdalusiac hernipode 

Little bustard 

I?o,bara bustard 

k'ater rail 

Spotted crake 

Little crake 

Paillor's crake 

Annex 3 (~octi.nued) 

Scj ectific Name: 

Mergus serrator 

Oxyara leucocephala 

Pandior. hali.aetus 

Haliaeetus albicilla 

Milvus milvus 

M. migracs 

Elacus caeruleus 

Circaetus ~allic"s 

Accipi tsr risus 

A. brevipes 

Euteo b1.iteo 

B. ruficus 

Percis apivorus 

Hieraeetns fasciatus 

I?. perrat~s 

Aqui la chrysaetos 

A. p0rnarir.a 

A. rapax 

Neophror perccopteras 

Cypaetus barbatus 

Torgos tracheliot~s 

Gyps fulv~s 

Circus aeriigicosus 

C. cyar.es;s 

C. macrourzs 

C. pygargus 

Falco cherriig 

F. biarmiccs 

F. peregricus 

F. pelegricoides 

F. eleocorae 

F. snbbzteo 

F. colunbarius 

F. vesperticus 

F. nailmacnj 

F. ticcucculus 

Alectori s barbara 

Coturcix coturcix 

Grus grus 

Acthropoides virgo 

Turcix sy lvati ca 

Otis tetrax 

Chlanydotis ucdulata 

Rallas aquatic~s 

Porzaca porzara 

P. parva 

P. piisilla


Commor Name: Sci-ectific Name: 

Corncrake 

Moorhen 

Aller' s gallicule 

Pdrple gallinule 

Coot 

0ystercat.cher 

Black-wicged stjlt 

Avocet 

Ricged plover 

Little rir-ged plover 


Golder plover 

Grey plover 

Dotterel 

Tcrcstoce 

Lapwir.e, 

Broad-bi lled sacdpiper 

Cixlew sacdpiper 

Ducli r 

Temrnir.ck' s stict 

Little stict 

Krot 

Sarderlirg 

Red-r.ecked phalarope 

Redsha~k 


Gree~shack 

Xarsh secdpi per 

Cornmoc sandpiper 

Wood sardpiper 

Cre~c sardpiper 

R u f ~ 

Curlew 

Sle~der-billed curlew 

Whimbrel 

Black- tailed gadwit 

Bar-tail~d godwit 

Woodcock 

Great sripe 

Jack sripe 

Scipe 

Store curlew 

Collared praticcole 

Cream-colo~red coJrser 

Great skca 

Arctic skda 

Pomarire sk~a 

Crex crex 

Callicula chloropus 

Porphyrula alleci 

Porphyrj o porphyrio 

Fulica atra 

Haematopus ostraleess 

Himactopus himactopus 

Recurvirostra avosetta 

Charadrius haiticula 

C. dubjus 

C. elexacdricus 

Pluvialis aprj caria 

P. squatarola 

Eudronias noricellus 

Arecarja icterpres 

Vacell~s varell~s 

Limicola falcirellus 

Calidris ferr,g~ rea 

C. alpice 

C. tenmjcckji 

C. micuta 

C. cac~tus 

C. alba 

Phalaropzs lobat~s 

Tricga totacus 

T. erythropss 

T. ceb.~laria 

T. stagcatilis 

T. hypoleucos 

T. glareola 

T. ochropus 

Philomachas pugcax 

Durnecjus arquata 

N. tecuirostris 

N. phaeopus 

Limosa limosa 

L. lappocica 

Scolopax rusti cola 

Callicago media 

Lymnocryptes micinus 

Callinago gallinago 

Burhicus oedj ccemus 

Glareola praticcola 

Cursori ~s cursar 

Stercorari is sk~a 

S. paresi tic& 

S. pornarir-&s

Connoc Came: 

Aiidoaic ' s gdl 

Slecder-bj lled gull 


Little gcll 

Kediterraceac gcll 

Herricg gull 

Lesser black-back 

Great black-back 

Connor gull 

Kittiwake 

G-11-billed terr 

Casgia~ terc 

Royal terr 

Lesser crested terc 

Sacdulch terr 

Com-13r. t e n 

Little terr. 

3lack tern 

White-virged black terc 

k'hisksre? terc 

Razorbll? 

Piiffir. 

Little a-ik 

Spotted sardgrouse 

Crowred sacdgrouse 

PLr- talled sardgrouse 

Elack-bellied sacdgrouse 

Flock dove 

Stock dove 

Voodpige~r 

T,rtle dove 

Paln dove or lacghicg dove 

Nanaqaa dove 

Great spotted cuckoo 

Cuckoo 

Barn owl 

Eagle owl 

Locg-eared owl 


scops ow1 

Little owl 

Tasty owl 

!:ight jar 

F?ed-cecke? el ght jar 

E~y~tiac ci ght jar 

Sxi f: 

Pallld sxift 

Scientific Mane: 

Larus aud oui nj i 

L. gecei 

L. ridibucdus 

L. mie.~tus 

L. melanocephalus 

L. argectatus 

L. fusctls 

L. mariniis 

L. canus 

Rissa tri dactyla 

Celochelidoc ni lotica 

Hydroprogee tschegrava 

Sterna maxima 

S. becgalecsis 

S. sandvicecsis 

S. hlr.ir.do 

S. albifrocs 

Chlidocias ciger 

C. le~copteras 

C. hy brida 

Alca torda 

Fraterclila arctica 

Alle alle 

Pterocles secegallus 

P. coronatas 

P. alchata 

Pterocles oriectalis 

Colcmba livia 

C. oenas 

C. palumbus 

Streptopelia turtur 

S. secegalecsis 

Oeca capecsi s 

Clamator elacdarius 

Cuculus cacorus 

Tyto alba 

Blubo bubo 

Asio otus 

A. flammeus 

Otus scops 

Athece coctua 

Strix aluco 

Caprimulg~s europaeds 

C. ruficollis 

C. aegypti~s 

Aps ap;s 

A. pallidzs


Commoc Name: Scientific Name: 

Alpjce swift 

Little swift 

Bee-eater 

Blue-cheeked bee-eater 

Roller 

Kicgfisher 

Hoopoe 

Greec woodpecker 

Great spotted woodpecker 

Lesser spotted WoOdpecker 

Wryceck 

Shore lark 

~ennicck' s horced lark 

Hoop?? lark 



Desert lark 

Ger-tailed desert lark 

D,?or,t' s lark 

Calacdre lark 

Thick-bi lled lark 

li~odlark 

Skylark 

Crestgd l6rk 

Thekla lark 

Swall~u 

Crag nart:~ 

Sard martir 

Yojse nartic 

Tree pipit 

Keadow pipit 

9ed-throated pipit 

7 , 

hater pipit 

Tawry pipit 

White wagtail 

Grey wagtail 

Blue-headed & yellow wagtail 

Conmoc bolbd 

Black-headed bush shrike 


Xoodchat shrike 


Hedgesparrou or ducrock 

CrasshDpper warbler 

Sav5 * s warbler 

4ee? warbler 

Grez; reed warbler 

A. melba 

A. affi~is 

).!crops apiaster 

M. auperciliosus 

Coracias garrulus 

Alcedo atthks 

Upupa epops 

Picas viridis 

Dendrocopos major 

D. mimr 

Jyrx torqui lla 

Eremaphila alpestris 

5. bilopha 

Alaemoc alaudipes 

Calandrella cinerea 

Calacdrella rufescecs 

Ammomaces deserti 

A. cicctur~s 

Chersophilus duponti 

Melanocorypha calandra 

Rhamphocorys clot-bey 

Lullula arborea 

Alauda arvecsis 

Galerida cristata 

G. theklae 

Hirundo rustj ca 

H. rupestrls 

Riparia riparia 

Delichoc urbica 

Acthus trivialis 

A. pratensis 

A. cervinus 

A. spiroletta 

A. campestris 

Motacilla alba 

M. cknerea 

M. flava 

Pycnonotus barbatus 

Tchagra senegala 

La~ius excubitor 

L. serator 

L. collurio 

Prurella modularis 

Lacustella naevia 

L. luscirioides 

Acrocephalus scirpaceus 

A. aricdicace~s

Conmoc Nane: 

Moustached warbler 

Aquatic warbler 

Sedge warbler 

Cetti' s warbler 


Scrub warbler 

Icterice warbler 

Nelodious warbler 

Olivaceocs warbler 

Vhitethroat 

Cardex warbler 

Blackcap 

Orpheac warbler 

Sardiriac warbler 

Tristran's warbler 

Desert warbler 

Subalpice warbler 


~armora's warbler 


Millox warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Wood sarbler 

Bocelli' s werbler 

Coldcrest 

Firecrest 




Stoeechat 

Whirchat 


Rock thrush 

Wheatear 


Isabelline wheatear 


Kourcire wheatear 

Red-rimped wheatear 

Vhite-crow-ed black 



Redstart 

Youssier's redstart 

Robir. 

Blce t hrob t 

Nightirgale 

Ancex 3 (~octi~ued) 

Sciectific Flame: 

A. melacopogon 

A. paludicola 

A. achoenobaenus 

Cettia cetti 

Cistj cola jwcidis 

Scotocerca icquieta 

Hippolais i cterina 

H. polyglotta 

H. pallida 

Sylvia cammucis 

S. boric 

S. atricapilla 

S. hortecsis 

S. nelacocephala 

S. desert5cola 

S. caca 

S. cactillacs 

S. cocspicillata 

S. sarda 

S. ucdata 

Phylloscopcs trochilus 

P. collybitz 

P. sibilatrix 

P . bone115 

Regul~s regulus 

R. igcicapi llus 

Xuscicapa striata 

Ficediila hypoleuca 

F. albicollis 

Saxicola torquata 

S. rilbetra 

Focticola solitarias 

K. saxatilis 

Oececthe oeranthe 

0. deserti 

0. isabellica 

0. hispacica 

0. lugecs 

0. moesta 

wheatear 0. leiicopyga 

0. leuc~ra 

Phoeci cur~s ochcros 

P. phoeci czr-s 

P. rnoissieri 

Eri thee-e rsbec~la 

LuscS cia svecica 

L. megarhycchos

Annex 3 (~octicued) 

Comn3c r!ane: Sciectific Name: 

R~fous bushchat 

Blackbird 

Ricg ouzel 

Fieldfare 

Redwi~g 

Sorg thrash 

Histle thrush 

F~lvoiis babbler 

Locg-tailed tit 

Coal tit 

Great tit 

Blce tit 

Short-toed treecreeper 

Vrec 

Core bzcticg 

Hozie biicticg 

Rock bixtir.6 

Clrl b~cticg 

Ortolar. 

Reed bxtlcg 

9ranbLir.g 

Chaf firch 

Goldfir.ch 

Siskic 

Greecfirch 

Hawfirch 

Trcmpeter fir.ch 

Lir.ret 

Serir: 

Crossbill 

Sparish sparrow 

Ho~se sparrow 

Desert sparrow 

Rock sparrow 

Star1ir.g 

Spotless starling 

Colder oriole 

Jay 

Nagpie 

Raver. 

Brouc-necked raven 

Jackdaw 

Cercortichas galactotes 

Turdus merula 

T. torquatus 

T. pjlarjs 

T. iliacus 

T. philomelos 

T. viscivorus 

Turdoides fulvus 

Aegithalos caudat~s 

Parus ater 

P. major 

P. careir~lecs 

Certhia brachydactyla 

Troglodytes troglodytes 

Enberiza calardra 

E. striolata 

R. cia 

E. cjrlus 

E. hortclara 

E. schoecic1.s 

Frj cgj lla moc tj f rj cgi lla 

F. coelebs 

Carduelis carduelis 

C. spirus 

C. chloris 

Coccothraustes coccothraustes 

Rhodopechys githagjcea 

Acarthis carrabica 

Sericus sericus 

Loxia ccrvirostra 

Passer hispaciolecsis 

P. domestic~s 

P. simplex 

Petroria petrocia 

Sturcus viilgaris 

S. ucicolor 

Oriolus oriolus 

Garrulus glacdarius 

Pica pica 

C O ~ V ~ COraX S 

C. r~ficollis 

Corvcs mored.~la

ANNEX 4 

HEILICENHAFEM CRITERIA 

(~e~rinted from: Carp 1980) 

1. Criteria pertaieicg to a wetland's importacce to populations and 

species 

A wetland shoold be considered ictercatiocally important if it: 

a) regiilarly siipports 1s (beicg at least 100 jndjviduals) of the flyway or 

biogeographical popolatioc of oce species of waterfowl; 

or 

b) regilarly s.;pports either 10,000 ducks, geese and swacs, or 10,000 

coots, or 20,000 waders (~lmjcolae); 

0 r 

c) syppgrts ac appreciable caber of ac endacgered species of plact or 

acinral; 

0 r 

d) is of special value for maictaicing genetic acd ecological diversity 

beca~ss of the q~ality acd pec~liaritjes of its flora acd fauca; 

or 

e) plays a major role ic its regioc as the habitat of placts acd of 

aqoatlc acd other acinals of sciectific or ecocomic importacce. 

2. Criteria cocceraed with the selectioc of representative or unique 

wet1ar.d s 

A. wetlacd sho~ld be cocsjdered ictercationally importact if it: 

a) is a representative example of a uetlacd commonity characteristic of 

its biogeographical regioc; 

or 

b) exenplifies a critical stage or extreme 5.r. biological or 

hydromorphological processes; 

or 

c) js ac integral part of a pecoljar feature. 

3. Criteria coccerned with the research, edocational or recreatiocal 

val~es of wetlacds 

A wetlacd shoAd be cocsidered ictercatiocallly importactt if it: 

a) is o~stacdicgly importact, well-sitoated acd well eqoipped for 

sciectific research acd ediicatio~; 

0 r 

b) is well-st.idied acd doc.2nected over nary years ar.d with a coctinuicg 

procrern of research of high value, reg~larly p~blished acd coctrjbuted 

to by the scje~tifjc commie5 ty; 

0 r 

c) offers special opportxities for pron3ticg public ucderstacdicg acd 

appreclatioc of wetlacds, opec to people from several coxtries.


4. Criteria concerned with the practicality of cocservatioc and management 

Notwithstanding its fitness to be considered as intenatjocally important 

on one of the Criteria set out under :, 2 and 3 above, a wetlacd should 

only be desigcated for inclusioc ic the List of the Ramsar Convectjoc if 

it: 

a) is physically acd admicistratively capable of being effectively 

cocserved acd managed; 

acd 

b) is free from the threat of major impact of external polliitjon, 

hydrological interferences acd land use or industrial practices. 

c) A wetlacd of catiocal importacce only nay nevertheless be cocsidered of 

ictgrcational importacce if it forms a complex wjth another adjacent 

wetlard of similar value across ac jctercational border.

biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

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