Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia

Rangelands in Tunisia, play a vital role in providing essential services such as clean water, air, forage, and habitat for diverse ecosystems. However, decades of degradation due to socioeconomic changes, abandonment of traditional grazing practices, and recurrent droughts have led to soil degradati...

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Main Authors: Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez, Hassan, Sawsan, Louhaichi, Mounir
Format: Internal Document
Language:Inglés
Published: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137309
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author Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez
Hassan, Sawsan
Louhaichi, Mounir
author_browse Hassan, Sawsan
Louhaichi, Mounir
Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez
author_facet Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez
Hassan, Sawsan
Louhaichi, Mounir
author_sort Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Rangelands in Tunisia, play a vital role in providing essential services such as clean water, air, forage, and habitat for diverse ecosystems. However, decades of degradation due to socioeconomic changes, abandonment of traditional grazing practices, and recurrent droughts have led to soil degradation and loss of plant species. Overgrazing, exacerbated by climatic aridity, has significantly reduced rangeland productivity. In response, the traditional rest technique (G'del) has been applied, but its sustainability remains a challenge. This report outlines the baseline situation of rangelands in southern Tunisia and introduces a novel approach—the Pastoral Living Lab (PLL)—aimed at integrating livestock, rangelands, and crops. The PLL involves local communities, aiming to develop alternative feed resources and foster relationships between tribes for sustainable rangeland management. The study focuses on three main range sites, each characterized by distinct vegetation types. Detailed assessments of soil, vegetation cover, species richness, plant density, and biomass production were conducted in selected monitoring locations within each site. Results indicate severe degradation with low biomass production and dominance of unpalatable species. The PLL approach, if successful, could provide a sustainable solution to restore and manage rangelands in the face of increasing climatic variability. However, challenges such as land tenure conflicts and disrupted social dynamics underscore the complexity of implementing such strategies.
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spelling CGSpace1373092026-01-14T06:56:26Z Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez Hassan, Sawsan Louhaichi, Mounir rangeland degradation sustainable management pastoral living lab climatic aridity alternative feed resources Rangelands in Tunisia, play a vital role in providing essential services such as clean water, air, forage, and habitat for diverse ecosystems. However, decades of degradation due to socioeconomic changes, abandonment of traditional grazing practices, and recurrent droughts have led to soil degradation and loss of plant species. Overgrazing, exacerbated by climatic aridity, has significantly reduced rangeland productivity. In response, the traditional rest technique (G'del) has been applied, but its sustainability remains a challenge. This report outlines the baseline situation of rangelands in southern Tunisia and introduces a novel approach—the Pastoral Living Lab (PLL)—aimed at integrating livestock, rangelands, and crops. The PLL involves local communities, aiming to develop alternative feed resources and foster relationships between tribes for sustainable rangeland management. The study focuses on three main range sites, each characterized by distinct vegetation types. Detailed assessments of soil, vegetation cover, species richness, plant density, and biomass production were conducted in selected monitoring locations within each site. Results indicate severe degradation with low biomass production and dominance of unpalatable species. The PLL approach, if successful, could provide a sustainable solution to restore and manage rangelands in the face of increasing climatic variability. However, challenges such as land tenure conflicts and disrupted social dynamics underscore the complexity of implementing such strategies. 2023-12-12 2024-01-08T13:53:05Z 2024-01-08T13:53:05Z Internal Document https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137309 en Limited Access International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas Azaiez Ouled Belgacem, Sawsan Hassan, Mounir Louhaichi. (12/12/2023). Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
spellingShingle rangeland degradation
sustainable management
pastoral living lab
climatic aridity
alternative feed resources
Ouled Belgacem, Azaiez
Hassan, Sawsan
Louhaichi, Mounir
Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title_full Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title_fullStr Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title_full_unstemmed Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title_short Participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of Southern Tunisia
title_sort participatory action research trials in arid rangelands of southern tunisia
topic rangeland degradation
sustainable management
pastoral living lab
climatic aridity
alternative feed resources
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137309
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