Conservatory Management of Natural Resources in the Naâma Region (Southwest Algeria)

Abstract

This work was carried out in the Naâma area to determine the appropriate techniques for natural resource conservation of the agricultural holdings surveyed in this region. The results show that combining the mechanical methods (threshold in gabion, threshold in dry stone and hillside reservoirs) and the biological ones (setting in defense, reforestation, rustic planting, etc.) can give the best result to conserve the natural resources. The investigation carried out with farmers of thirty farms allowed us to determine some peasant of water and soil conservation techniques (WSCT) implemented in this area, notably basins, seguia, mulching, and dry stonewalls. On the other hand, some thresholds were practical and very well adapted to the physical conditions of this region. Still, they are partially degraded due to the influence of intense rainfalls and violent winds, which usually require normal controls after each hydrological event. The average cost to install a complete system of natural resource conservation in this area (torrential corrections and biological plantation) could be estimated from 1200 to 4000 DZD/m3. The sensitization of people in the fight against any factor of land and environmental degradation is significant because this precious heritage that constitutes the land requests their participation in the various development programs on these steppe areas.