25 - 29 November 2019. Antalya, Turkey. Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC) - 24th Session Presentation by Dr. Mounir Louhaichi Rangeland Ecology & Management International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas M.Louhaichi@cigar.org

1. Near East Forestry and Range Commission
Mounir Louhaichi (ICARDA) & Jamel Kailene (DGF-Tunisia)
SUSTAINABLE SILVOPASTORAL
RESTORATION TO PROMOTE
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN
TUNISIA
Near East Forestry & Range Commission

2. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
• Silvopastoral systems, a form of
agroforestry, involve the interaction of woody
perennials, forages, and livestock. The three
components in the system are intentionally
managed for optimal interactions aimed at
augmenting agricultural production and
environmental services (Sharrow, 1999).
Importance of
silvopastoral
production system

3. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Restoration vs. Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation
- the reparation of
ecosystem processes,
productivity and
services… but..
- does not necessarily
mean a return to pre-
existing biotic
conditions.
Restoration
- the process of assisting the
recovery of an ecosystem
that has been degraded,
damaged, or destroyed.
- attempts to return an
ecosystem to its historic
trajectory.
Source: Society for Ecological Restoration International Science & Policy Working Group. 2004. The SER International Primer on
Ecological Restoration. www.ser.org &Tucson: Society for Ecological Restoration International.

4. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
The Sbaihia pilot site, Zaghouan - Tunisia

5. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Objective / Purpose
Purpose: To develop a pilot site in semi-arid Tunisia that will
be scaled up in the Near East and North Africa (NENA)
region illustrating sustainable management of silvopastoral
production systems.
Overall Objective: Improve the livelihood of agro-
silvopastoral communities through increasing community
resilience, income and capacity of the local population.

6. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Approach
To achieve this objective, the initiative is axed on the
following pillars:
➢ Adopt a participatory multidisciplinary approach
➢ Implement selected proven technology aimed at sustainable
development of the silvopastoral production system of Sbaihia
site with focus on climate change adaptation:
➢ choice intervention,
➢ choice of species, etc.
➢ Enhance capacity of all concerned parties including farmers,
extension specialists, local authority, etc.

7. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Developing Workplan

8. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Choice of Species
▪ Need assessment, capitalizing on indigenous
knowledge.
▪ Selecting species using participatory
approaches with local communities and
relevant stakeholders.
▪ Selecting multi-purpose plant species based
on socio-economic as well as environmental
criteria.

9. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Choice of Species
▪ Favoring as much as possible the use of
indigenous and well-adapted species.
▪ Select species that require minimum care and
protection:
• Less capital and labor demand
• Social fencing versus physical fencing
• Carefully considering the use of exotic species

10. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Ceratonia siliqua
Carob tree
500 of Ceratonia siliqua
Benefits:
n Tolerates drought
n Grows on a wide range of soils
n Performs as a multipurpose tree
n Produces nutritious fruits (carob beans/ pods)
n Provides shades for livestock during summer

11. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Medicago arborea
tree medic
500 of Medicago arborea
Benefits:
▪ Is excellent to feed livestock
due to its high protein content
▪ High palatability
▪ Long lived (at least 25years)
▪ Improve soil fertility

12. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Atriplex nummularia
oldman saltbush
Benefits:
▪ Drought resistant
▪ Can grow in areas with high salinity (max 300 mM)
▪ Is a good maintenance feed when other feed
sources are depleted
▪ Is grown in arid areas all over the world
▪ Adequate source of crude protein

13. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cactus pear
3,200 cladodes of
Opuntia ficus
indica
Benefits:
n Drought-tolerant
n Evergreen plant
n Easy to establish, maintain, and use
n Multipurpose species
n High fodder potential
n Resolves livestock watering in the dry areas
n High palatability
n High in soluble carbohydrates

14. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Hedysarum coronarium L.
Sulla
Benefits:
n Drought resistant
n Improves soil fertility and erosion control
n Prefers slightly acid to alkaline soils
n Highly palatable, nutritious, and productive forage
n High-protein forage crop

15. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Stone gabion constructed within the pilot site
The two gabions are expected to preserve at least 2,400T / ha / year
from degradation

16. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Benches constructed manually at the pilot site
With a total distance of 700 m and a water retention capacity of 0.4m²/m,
a total estimated water harvesting is expected to be 280 m3/year

17. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Capacity Development
405
294
111
0
100
200
300
400
500
Total number Males Females
Number of Trainees

18. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Capacity building

19. Fliers, Factsheets, etc.
Carobtree

20. Fliers, Factsheets, etc.
Lentisktree

21. Fliers, Factsheets, etc.
Sulla

22. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Planning phase
▪ Understanding socio-cultural, land tenure, rights to
access - rather than focusing only on biophysical and
technical aspects.
▪ Identifying targeted groups (homogenous, less
conflict) to start with.
▪ Setting restoration priorities and targets.
▪ What type of interventions, where, how and for what
use?

23. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Summary
Lessons learned
❑ For the first time different departments representing Ministry of
Agriculture (regional as well as national level) are working together
talking a common challenge combatting land degradation.
❑ There is a need to establish a functional CBO (elected member) to serve
as a link between community and various agencies and for sustainability
(ownership).
❑ The workplan (choice of species & interventions and management
(grazing)) should be agreed with full participation of the local community.
❑ Once the site is rehabilitated, it is recommended to include a small
grazing fee (legislation exist). The generated fund can be used to
maintain and expand site.
❑ Forestry Department in Tunisia is scaling up the approach to other
regions in the country.

24. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Use of a particular intervention in the restoration of
degraded silvopastoral site is site specific – no one
single rule to apply anywhere!!
The more time is invested in the planning phase –
more chance for success of the programme.
Summary
Keep in mind

25. Near East Forestry & Range Commission
Mounir Louhaichi
Rangeland Ecology & Management
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
M.Louhaichi@cigar.org
Thank you!
Near East Forestry & Range Commission