General Presentation Of The Al Jerid Area In Tozeur, Tunisia, As Test Area In The Arid Landscapes For The Fight Against Desertification

Abstract

Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid arid dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Over 250 million people are directly affected by desertification, and about one billion people in over 100 countries are at risk. These people include many of the world's poorest, most marginalized and politically weak citizens The international community has long recognized that desertification is a major economic, social and environmental problem of concern to many countries in all regions of the world. Desertification can be reversed only if far reaching changes are made in local and international behavior. Step by step, these changes will ultimately lead to sustainable land use and food security for a growing world population. Combating desertification, then, is really just part of a much broader objective: the sustainable development of countries affected by drought and desertification. In south western Tunisia, the legendary city of Tozeur, internationally well known for its Saharan oasis created thousands or year ago, as well as for its actual well growing Saharan touristic and cultural activities, is a good example of success story in combating desertification. Geographically speaking, the Tozeur region is located between two distinct geological fields - the Atlasic relief in the North and the Saharan platform in the South - the Tozeur area is characterized by structural aspects of transition. The synclinal undulations are not well expressed in the landscape; however, one can observe the development of the typical synclinal, which is intercalated between the mount of Draa El jerid in the South and the dismantled mount of Ong el jemal in the North. The averages of the high temperatures recorded at the station of Tozeur, coupled with long duration of sunlight, determine an enormous evaporating capacity of the climate. This high evaporation, combined with a weak rainfall, determines a strongly overdrawn annual balance. In the Tozeur region and despite these hard climatic conditions arid the scarcity of natural resources. and thanks to its population who performed a participatory approach, the city succeeded to survive and to recreate a favorable conditions for socio economical, cultural growth as well environmental protection and rehabilitation. The following paper presents the historical, the human, the cultural aspects of the Tozeur area, and then highlights the climatic, the morphological and natural resources aspects and how the area managed to survive and develop a sustainable way of life for local population as well as for visitors.