1.Combat Desertification and Land Degradation inTunisia Ministry of Infrastructure, Land Planning and Sustainable Development *** Secretary of State for Sustainable Development *** Director General for Environment & Quality of Life Hamda ALOUI, National Focal Point UNCCD Republic of Tunisia

2. Summary Basic information Programs contributed in combat desertification/Land Degradation Current state of degradation Institutions developed to Combat desertification Plan (2012-2016) Started the Process of the alignment of our NAP with to the 10 years strategy of the UNCCD 2 3. Basic information Total area: 16.4 Million ha Used lands:11.0 Million ha Agricultural lands area:5.4 Million ha Forest & Pasture lands:5.6 Million ha Forest area:1.1 Million ha Pasture area: 4.5 Million ha Sahara (unused lands) :5.4 Million ha 3 4. Institutions and tools developed to combat desertification and erosion Since 1998 a National Action Program for combating desertification NAP-CD has been developed. It represents the framework of strategies, programs and projects based on rural development It relies on a rural development strategy that gives greater emphasis to different aspects of natural resource protection and to combat desertification NAP-CD is a tool for coordinating and integrating different strategies of natural resources implemented by the government and to ensure the consideration of socioeconomic and environment issues. 4 5. NAP-CD mainly occur at three levels: Institutionally: the creation of the National Committee to Combat Desertification and local committee. Operationally: the implementation of programs and projects planning and conducting horizontal actions to support the implementation of the plan by initiating a system of monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects to combat desertification. Financially : increasing mobilization of funds for natural resources protection. 5 6. Programs to combat desertification and erosion * NAP adopted since 1998 * Since 1990Tunisia planned many strategies to improve natural resources management: Soil and water conservation strategy 1990-2000 2001-2011 Forest development strategy 1990-2000 2001-2011 6 7. Soil and water conservation program: Construction of Lakes Improvement of rivers Mechanical terraces Watershed improvement Stone tapes 7 8. Forestry program: Afforestation to extend forest areas Pasture lands improvement Watershed protection forest roads & Materials of fire protection Biodiversity conservation and improvement Combating desertification in the Sahara through embankment works Creating of protected areas 8 9. Investment The participation of private sector ( big framers and agricultural companies) is about 5% of the total amount. 1990-2001 2002-2011 Total Soil and water conservation programs 434 MDT (289.3 M$) 559 MDT (372.6 M$) 661.9 M$ Forest programs 546 MDT (364 M$) 698 MDT (465.3 M$) 829.3 M$ Total 653.3 M$ 837.9 M$ 1491.2 M$ 9 10. Results Improvement of forest cover to reach 7% of total area in 2011 compared to 4.2% in 1990 Construction of 750 lakes Reducing the average area burned from 1500 ha (1990-2000) to 400 ha (2001-2010) 17 national parks 27 natural reserves 10 11. Current state of degradation The index of sensitivity to desertification used to identify areas affected: MEDALUS (Mediterranean Desertification and land Use) Outputs: Very sensitive areas: 54% Sensitive areas: 40% Less sensitive areas:6% 11 12. Soil degradation Water erosion 12 13. Wind erosion Soil salinity 13 14. LADA- Tunisia: Land Degradation and Assessment in Drylands Its a tool to measure land degradation, project funded by FAO. Outputs: maps, indicators, analyses http://www.ladatunisie.org 14 15. Outputs :LADA- Tunisia Land degradation map Intensity map degradation 15 16. Plan 2012-2016 Continue extending forest area (afforestation) to reach 10.7% of total area in 2020 (370 000 ha). Pasture improvement: 250 000 ha Soil embankment : 7500 km construction of lakes: 500 lakes Watershed improvement : 1 million ha Update of : Degradation map Agricultural land protection map Alignment of Tunisias National Action Program to the UNCCD 10-Year Strategy implementation and Reporting review Process 16 17. Supporting the implementation of the UNCCD Revision and alignment of the NAP with the 10-year Strategy of UNCCD Reporting and Review process 2 components 18. Supporting the implementation of the UNCCD 1. Revision and alignment of the NAP with the 10- year Strategy of UNCCD 1.2 Enhanced national capacity to assess baselines and monitor defined NAP indicators Review 1.1 The NAP aligned with the 10-Year Strategy of UNCCD and mainstreamed into development planning and relevant sectoral investment plans and policies 1.3 Improved policy and institutional framework and financing mechanisms for NAP implementation 19. Supporting the implementation of the UNCCD 2.2.An enabling environment for preparation of national reporting cycle to the UNCCD 2.1 The fifth national report on UNCCD implementation prepared and submitted 2.Reporting and Review process 20. Thank you for your attention 20