Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia

Avoiding the negative effects of intensive groundwater resource use is challenging, especially when the interactions and causal pathways between biophysical and socioeconomic processes are complex, and when users, management, and regulatory bodies are spatially dispersed. The plain of Haouaria, in n...

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Autores principales: Mekki, I., Ghazouani, Wafa, Closas, Alvar, Molle, Francois
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83362
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author Mekki, I.
Ghazouani, Wafa
Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
author_browse Closas, Alvar
Ghazouani, Wafa
Mekki, I.
Molle, Francois
author_facet Mekki, I.
Ghazouani, Wafa
Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
author_sort Mekki, I.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Avoiding the negative effects of intensive groundwater resource use is challenging, especially when the interactions and causal pathways between biophysical and socioeconomic processes are complex, and when users, management, and regulatory bodies are spatially dispersed. The plain of Haouaria, in north-eastern Tunisia, has witnessed an important development of groundwater abstraction, fueled by the multiplication of wells tapping the underlying shallow and deep aquifers. As the economic activities linked to such development are threatened by the degradation of groundwater quantity and quality, the aim of this paper is to investigate actors’ perceptions of these processes and to emphasize the undertaken mitigation measures. The study builds on semi-directive surveys with the different groundwater users and archive data in order to understand the technical, institutional and agricultural practices driving groundwater development. The paper starts by investigating the historical context of groundwater development and the progressive degradation of the resource. Then, the paper identifies the main constraints and adaptation strategies of the various users (public and private), before examining the challenges faced by groundwater users. Results show varied patterns of actors' behavior, interest, and perception of the groundwater resource. This analysis show that farmers' lack of collective action, land tenure insecurity, labor shortage, the monopoly of production inputs by suppliers, and the cost of energy for pumping are the main challenges faced by groundwater users. The study finally explores different management and policy options that can lead to a more environmentally and socioeconomically sustainable socio-hydrological system.
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spelling CGSpace833622025-03-11T09:50:20Z Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia Mekki, I. Ghazouani, Wafa Closas, Alvar Molle, Francois groundwater groundwater development water resources resource depletion environmental degradation aquifers water users agricultural practices collective action wells tube wells stakeholders socioeconomic environment land ownership land tenure environmental engineering Avoiding the negative effects of intensive groundwater resource use is challenging, especially when the interactions and causal pathways between biophysical and socioeconomic processes are complex, and when users, management, and regulatory bodies are spatially dispersed. The plain of Haouaria, in north-eastern Tunisia, has witnessed an important development of groundwater abstraction, fueled by the multiplication of wells tapping the underlying shallow and deep aquifers. As the economic activities linked to such development are threatened by the degradation of groundwater quantity and quality, the aim of this paper is to investigate actors’ perceptions of these processes and to emphasize the undertaken mitigation measures. The study builds on semi-directive surveys with the different groundwater users and archive data in order to understand the technical, institutional and agricultural practices driving groundwater development. The paper starts by investigating the historical context of groundwater development and the progressive degradation of the resource. Then, the paper identifies the main constraints and adaptation strategies of the various users (public and private), before examining the challenges faced by groundwater users. Results show varied patterns of actors' behavior, interest, and perception of the groundwater resource. This analysis show that farmers' lack of collective action, land tenure insecurity, labor shortage, the monopoly of production inputs by suppliers, and the cost of energy for pumping are the main challenges faced by groundwater users. The study finally explores different management and policy options that can lead to a more environmentally and socioeconomically sustainable socio-hydrological system. 2017-09 2017-09-08T06:00:36Z 2017-09-08T06:00:36Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83362 en Open Access Elsevier Mekki, I.; Ghazouani, Wafa; Closas, Alvar; Molle, Francois. 2017. Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 10p. (Onine first). doi: 10.1016/j.gsd.2017.05.001
spellingShingle groundwater
groundwater development
water resources
resource depletion
environmental degradation
aquifers
water users
agricultural practices
collective action
wells
tube wells
stakeholders
socioeconomic environment
land ownership
land tenure
environmental engineering
Mekki, I.
Ghazouani, Wafa
Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title_full Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title_fullStr Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title_short Perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the Haouaria region in Tunisia
title_sort perceptions of groundwater degradation and mitigation responses in the haouaria region in tunisia
topic groundwater
groundwater development
water resources
resource depletion
environmental degradation
aquifers
water users
agricultural practices
collective action
wells
tube wells
stakeholders
socioeconomic environment
land ownership
land tenure
environmental engineering
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83362
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AT closasalvar perceptionsofgroundwaterdegradationandmitigationresponsesinthehaouariaregionintunisia
AT mollefrancois perceptionsofgroundwaterdegradationandmitigationresponsesinthehaouariaregionintunisia