INSTITUT DES REGIONS ARIDES
Economie
The impact of land use changes on sustainable development is of increasing interest in many regions of the world. This study aimed to test the transferability of the Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA), which was... more
The impact of land use changes on sustainable development is of increasing interest in many regions of the world. This study aimed to test the transferability of the Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA), which was originally developed in the European context, to developing countries, in which lack of data often prevents the use of data-driven impact assessment methods. The core aspect of FoPIA is the stakeholder-based assessment of alternative land use scenarios. Scenario impacts on regional sustainability are assessed by using a set of nine regional land use functions (LUFs), which equally cover the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The cases analysed in this study include (1) the alternative spatial planning policies around the Merapi volcano and surrounding areas of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia; (2) the large-scale afforestation of agricultural areas to reduce soil erosion in Guyuan, China; (3) the expansion of soil and water conservation measures in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia; (4) the agricultural intensification and the potential for organic agriculture in Bijapur, India; and (5) the land degradation and land conflicts resulting from land division and privatisation in Narok, Kenya. All five regions are characterised by population growth, partially combined with considerable economic development, environmental degradation problems and social conflicts. Implications of the regional scenario impacts as well as methodological aspects are discussed. Overall, FoPIA proved to be a useful tool for diagnosing regional humaneenvironment interactions and for supporting the communication and social learning process among different stakeholder groups.
The need to enhance sustainable development of land use is more urgent than ever; specifically in developing countries where poverty and land degradation are often interlinked. To promote a common understanding of land use problems by... more
The need to enhance sustainable development of land use is more urgent than ever; specifically in developing countries where poverty and land degradation are often interlinked. To promote a common understanding of land use problems by experts, stakeholders and decision makers, it is essential to understand the system characteristics, including the complex feedbacks between drivers and impacts. To enhance sustainable development, appropriate policies need to be identified. In this paper, we analysed and compared seven case studies in Kenya, Mali, Tunisia, China, India, Indonesia and Brazil, representing different biophysical and socio-economic conditions and challenges. We analysed Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) story lines of the land use problems, policy priorities and value trade-offs as identified by stakeholders and experts in National Policy Forums. Important drivers of land use change impacting main land use problems among the case studies were economic growth, technological development, immigration and agricultural intensification, in addition to existing policies. Of the latter the most important were related to domestic support through various forms of subsidies or access to credit, land tenure polices and liberalization policies. In the policy prioritization, the value trade-offs made by the National Policy Forums emphasize the environment rather than increased economic production. It is recognized that the environment needs to be improved to maintain and improve economic production in the long term, both in agriculture and in other sectors.
The development of a decision or policy support system is a very time consuming and expensive process. Reusing an existing system provides therefore major benefits. This paper describes the process followed when applying the existing... more
The development of a decision or policy support system is a very time consuming and expensive process. Reusing an existing system provides therefore major benefits. This paper describes the process followed when applying the existing MedAction Policy Support System, developed for Northern Mediterranean regions, to the Oum Zessar watershed in south east Tunisia. The paper presents the differences and similarities of the problems and processes in the different regions and describes how they relate to the adaptation of the existing model and the place the system could take in the decision-making process. Furthermore, it discusses the likelihood of its actual uptake in the Tunisian context based on six criteria discussed in a participatory approach with potential users of the system.
- by Azaiez Belgacem and +1
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Environmental threats and progressive degradation of natural resources are considered critical impediments to sustainable development. This paper reports on a participatory impact assessment of alternative soil and water conservation... more
Environmental threats and progressive degradation of natural resources are considered critical impediments to sustainable development. This paper reports on a participatory impact assessment of alternative soil and water conservation (SWC) scenarios in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia. The first objective was to assess the impact of three SWC scenarios on key social, economic and environmental land use functions. The second objective was to test and evaluate the applicability of the 'Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA)' for assessing scenario impacts in the context of a developing country, in this case Tunisia. The assessed scenarios included: the originally planned SWC policy implementation at 85 % coverage of arable land of the watershed, the current implementation (70 %), and a hypothetical expansion of SWC measures to the entire watershed (100 %). Our results suggest that implementation of the SWC policy at 100 % coverage of arable land achieves the maximum socioeconomic benefit. However, if stakeholders' preferences regarding land use functions are taken into account, and considering the fact that the implementation of SWC measures also implies some negative changes to traditional landscapes and the natural system, SWC implementation at 85 % coverage of arable land might be preferable. The FoPIA approved to be a useful tool for conducting a holistic sustainability impact assessment of SWC scenarios and for studying the most intriguing sustainability problems while providing possible recommendations towards sustainable development. We conclude that participatory impact assessment contributes to an enhanced regional understanding of key linkages between policy effects and sustainable development, which provides the foundation for improved policy decision making.
Indicator-based approaches are often used to monitor land degradation and desertification from the global to the very local scale. However, there is still little agreement on which indicators may best reflect both status and trends of... more
Indicator-based approaches are often used to monitor land degradation and desertification from the global to the very local scale. However, there is still little agreement on which indicators may best reflect both status and trends of these phenomena. In this study, various processes of land degradation and desertification have been analyzed in 17 study sites around the world using a wide set of biophysical and socioeconomic indicators. The database described earlier in this issue by Kosmas and others (Environ Manage, 2013) for defining desertification risk was further analyzed to define the most important indicators related to the following degradation processes: water erosion in various land uses, tillage erosion, soil salinization, water stress, forest fires, and overgrazing. A correlation analysis was applied to the selected indicators in order to identify the most important variables contributing to each land degradation process. The analysis indicates that the most important indicators are: (i) rain seasonality affecting water erosion, water stress, and forest fires, (ii) slope gradient affecting water erosion, tillage erosion and water stress, and (iii) water scarcity soil salinization, water stress, and forest fires. Implementation of existing regulations or policies concerned with resources development and environmental sustainability was identified as the most important indicator of land protection.
In the arid regions of Tunisia, considerable investments are being made to maintain the old water harvesting techniques and introduce new ones to capture the scarce amount of rainwater (100 mm to 230 mm annually) for agricultural and... more
In the arid regions of Tunisia, considerable investments are being made to maintain the old water harvesting techniques and introduce new ones to capture the scarce amount of rainwater (100 mm to 230 mm annually) for agricultural and domestic purposes. However, no detailed assessment of the multiple effects and the costs and benefits of these techniques have been made so far. This paper summarizes the results of an in depth investigation of the multiple impacts (runoff mobilization, ground water recharge, agro-socio-economic impacts) of the water harvesting works undertaken in the watershed of oued Oum Zessar (southeastern Tunisia). The importance of interdisciplinary and integrated approaches was revealed through this detailed impact assessment and economic evaluation. In fact, the profitability of the water harvesting works depends largely on the criteria chosen. However, further refinements are needed to better include all possible impacts (positive and negative) that occur as a result of the installation of the water harvesting structures.
- by Habib Chaieb and +1
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- Fisheries, Arid Land Ecology, Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
For stimulating sustainable development in developing countries, land use patterns and land use changes are considered critical, and therefore effective and efficient land use policies are needed. In this paper we present a methodological... more
For stimulating sustainable development in developing countries, land use patterns and land use changes are considered critical, and therefore effective and efficient land use policies are needed. In this paper we present a methodological framework that has been developed in a joint European and developing countries project (LUPIS -Land Use Policies and Sustainable Development in Developing Countries), to assess the impact of land use policies on sustainable development in developing countries. An illustrative application is presented for a case study in China, where water pollution due to agriculture in Taihu Basin is a major problem.
Ce rapport de recherche propose une analyse croisée des processus d'émergence des territoires ruraux dans les pays du pourtour méditerranéen. La contribution d'équipes de recherche de 10 pays permet une analyse originale qui... more
Ce rapport de recherche propose une analyse croisée des processus d'émergence des territoires ruraux dans les pays du pourtour méditerranéen. La contribution d'équipes de recherche de 10 pays permet une analyse originale qui mobilise des approches nationales et des études de terrain issues de l'ensemble de ces pays. Les questions des formes de gouvernance, de décentralisation ou encore les trajectoires de développement sont mises en perspective.
- by Mongi Sghaier and +2
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The development of a decision or policy support system is a very time consuming and expensive process. Reusing an existing system provides therefore major benefits. This paper describes the process followed when applying the existing... more
The development of a decision or policy support system is a very time consuming and expensive process. Reusing an existing system provides therefore major benefits. This paper describes the process followed when applying the existing MedAction Policy Support System, developed for Northern Mediterranean regions, to the Oum Zessar watershed in south east Tunisia. The paper presents the differences and similarities of the problems and processes in the different regions and describes how they relate to the adaptation of the existing model and the place the system could take in the decision-making process. Furthermore, it discusses the likelihood of its actual uptake in the Tunisian context based on six criteria discussed in a participatory approach with potential users of the system.
- by Azaiez Belgacem and +4
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- The Future
Overpumping of the Smar and Jorf Aquifers in Zeuss-Koutine region due expansion of irrigated agriculture is believed to have resulted in reductions in water shortage volumes and drops in water table in several regions. It is widely agreed... more
Overpumping of the Smar and Jorf Aquifers in Zeuss-Koutine region due expansion of irrigated agriculture is believed to have resulted in reductions in water shortage volumes and drops in water table in several regions. It is widely agreed upon that water demand should be reduced through increases in water use efficiency to make irrigated agriculture in the region more sustainable. For that, many reforms have been made in Tunisia in the last two decades to improve irrigation water efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to asses the technical efficiency (TE)
- by Mongi Sghaier and +1
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A l'heure actuelle, les stratégies de développement durable apparaissent comme un moyen utile pour améliorer les conditions de vie des populations et lutter contre la pauvreté, surtout en milieu rural. Dans le présent travail, nous allons... more
A l'heure actuelle, les stratégies de développement durable apparaissent comme un moyen utile pour améliorer les conditions de vie des populations et lutter contre la pauvreté, surtout en milieu rural. Dans le présent travail, nous allons parcourir la situation du développement durable en Tunisie à la lumière des acquis enregistrés dans le pays et ce, en vue de la réalisation des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement (OMD). Ainsi, nous allons évaluer à titre exploratoire des données spatiales appliquées à un ensemble d'indicateurs de développement, moyennant la méthode d'Analyse en Composantes Principales (ACP), pour mettre en évidence les disparités régionales entre les gouvernorats et surtout, l'inégalité territoriale entre les régions côtières et intérieures du pays. Mots-clés: Développement durable, Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement, disparité régionale, Tunisie.
- by Mongi Sghaier
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Cette étude évalue la vulnérabilité de l'agriculture dans la plaine de Jeffara (sud-est tunisien) aux changements climatiques en utilisant la méthode Ricardienne. Cette méthode consiste à exprimer les revenus nets agricoles en fonction... more
Cette étude évalue la vulnérabilité de l'agriculture dans la plaine de Jeffara (sud-est tunisien) aux changements climatiques en utilisant la méthode Ricardienne. Cette méthode consiste à exprimer les revenus nets agricoles en fonction des variables climatiques, édaphiques et socio-économiques. Ces modèles ricardiens ont été testés sur la base des données d'une enquête réalisée dans le cadre d'un projet de développement dans la plaine Jeffara pour la compagne agricole 2002-2003. Ces modèles ont permis d'exprimer d'une part la relation qui existe entre le revenu agricole et les variables climatiques (température et précipitation) et d'autre part, d'analyser la sensibilité des revenus agricoles par rapport à ces variables climatiques. Des simulations ont été faites sur la base des résultats du scénario A2 de la projection qui a été réalisé par le modèle HadCM3 à l'échelle nationale et régionale de la Tunisie. Les résultats de l'étude ont montré le non linéarité de la relation entre le revenu agricole et le climat. En même temps, les effets négatifs de certaines options d'adaptation ont montré aussi que l'agriculture dans la plaine de Jeffara est une agriculture paysanne basée sur le travail familial qui nécessite aujourd'hui un capital financier important et une marge de modernisation afin d'améliorer l'activité agricole dans les années futures. Tandis que les effets positifs de certaines autres options peuvent servir comme des points de réflexion dans l'élaboration des stratégies d'adaptation aux changements climatiques comme l'utilisation des nouvelles technologies d'irrigation et l'intégration de l'activité de l'élevage dans l'exploitation agricole.
- by Mongi Sghaier
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Vous trouverez ci-après le tiré à part de votre article au format électronique (pdf) : Un système d'information pour le suivi opérationnel de la désertification à l'échelle locale (prototype SIELO) paru dans Sécheresse, 2012, Volume 23,... more
Vous trouverez ci-après le tiré à part de votre article au format électronique (pdf) : Un système d'information pour le suivi opérationnel de la désertification à l'échelle locale (prototype SIELO) paru dans Sécheresse, 2012, Volume 23, Numéro 3
- by Mongi Sghaier and +2
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GIS platform the paper presents a complete approach to characterizing quantifying and modelling spatially agricultural practices along with available natural resources, both in interaction in a given landscape area. The description of a... more
GIS platform the paper presents a complete approach to characterizing quantifying and modelling spatially agricultural practices along with available natural resources, both in interaction in a given landscape area. The description of a geocomputational workflow modelling of rural landscapes into units where the causes and intensity of desertification risk can be associated is detailed. The SIEL software allows to set up the parameters of a modelling simulation according to the scientific workflow and to perform its execution. Results over several observatories in the circum-Saharan area are presented. They open the discussion on future and the potential developments of the SIEL in the context of observatories dedicated to support decision making to combat desertification.
- by Stéphane Debard and +3
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Vous trouverez ci-après le tiré à part de votre article au format électronique (pdf) : Un système d'information pour le suivi opérationnel de la désertification à l'échelle locale (prototype SIELO) paru dans Sécheresse, 2012, Volume 23,... more
Vous trouverez ci-après le tiré à part de votre article au format électronique (pdf) : Un système d'information pour le suivi opérationnel de la désertification à l'échelle locale (prototype SIELO) paru dans Sécheresse, 2012, Volume 23, Numéro 3
- by Farah Chouikhi and +1
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tech n ologies en Méditerran ée. In : Cantero-Martínez C. (ed.), Gabiña D. (ed.). Mediterranean rainfed agriculture: Strategies for sustainability .