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Use of remote sensing and GIS for combating desertification in the dry areas of Tunisia
Ouessar M.
Dr
Institut des Régions Arides (IRA),
Tunisia
Email: ouessar.mohamed@ira.rnrt.tn
More than two thirds of the area of Tunisia are under dry bioclimates (Saharan, arid, semi arid and dry subhumid) and receive less than 400 mm annually. Then the problem of desertification, which threatens more than 90% of the country, is considered among the major environmental problems. The Tunisian Government has dealt with it as one of the main top agenda development issues since the sixties. In this framework, the IRA was established in 1976 as a specialized research for development institution in 1976 and has for mandate to carry out research and training programs for natural resources management and combating desertification in the dry areas of the country.
Since the problem of decertification is multidisciplinary and occurs at different scales, the use of remote sensing and GIS was considered among the main working tools. In accordance with its mandates, IRA has developed the use and application of those tools at three levels: research, training, and development.
At the research level, the applications have concerned:
- Monitoring and surveillance of desertification through a network of observatories having different biophysical and socio-economic characteristics,
- Monitoring of land and vegetation degradation and sand dunes encroachment,
- Watershed management and soil conservation,
- Human and environmental interactions,
- Livestock and wildlife habitats.
At the training level:
- Organization of training sessions for the technicians of the development agencies (agriculture, etc),
- Hosting of students of all levels (undergraduate, bachelors, master)
At the development level:
- Contribution to the studies related to the development projects especially related to natural resources management using the digital databases and information techniques,
- Development of decision making tools based on GIS and RS techniques,
- Active implementation of the monitoring and evaluation of the national action plan as part of the UNCCD.
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