1. Approach’s Outline and Features
This is an integrated reforestation approach, combining technical components, such as tree-planting, with socioeconomic components, like improving livelihoods.
- The integrated management approach in the forestry development sector in Tunisia was standardized in the Project.
- The integrated management approach combines technical and socioeconomic development components to improve the living conditions of local residents in forest zones, aiming to ease their pressures on natural resources and manage forests more sustainably.
- The Agricultural Development Group (ADG), comprising local community forest users, was established and collaborated with agricultural agencies and NGOs to take account of residents’ needs and ensure they are reflected in the Community Development Plan (CDP).
Keywords
Reforestation, Community Development, Livelihood Improvement, Integrated Management, Tree Planting, Non-Timber Forest Product
2. Description of the project from which the approach is derived
2-1. Introduction
The forest area in Tunisia decreased from 1.25 million hectares at the beginning of the 20th century to 368,000 hectares in the mid-1950s. Therefore, reforestation had to be further promoted with the need to prevent soil erosion and conserve the natural environment in mind. The Project aimed to prevent soil erosion, increase the forest area and improve socioeconomic conditions and the natural environment through reforestation and regional development in the four regions of northwestern Tunisia.
(Source: JICA)
2-2. Details of the measures taken
This integrated management approach was standardized for the forestry development sector in Tunisia by combining technical and socioeconomic development components, as part of efforts to ease the pressure on natural resources by improving the living conditions of local residents in forest zones. The socioeconomic component included the establishment of 13 Agricultural Development Groups, each of which formulated a Community Development Plan (CDP) in a participatory manner, while the Project supported the realization of the CDP. This was a strategy to manage the forest more sustainably by diversifying and improving residents’ income through socioeconomic development and easing the pressure on the natural environment.
Technical components
| Sub-components | Main Activities | Achievement |
| A. Forest infrastructure development | A1: Forest road construction A2: Forest road maintenance A3: Firebreak construction A4: Firebreak maintenence A5: Forest officer station construction A6: Forest officer station maintenance A7: Fire watch tower construction A8: Fire watch tower maintenance A9: Construction of water reservoir tank, and others | A1: 106 km A2: 155.5km A3: 91 A4: 1,111.5km A5: 6 A6: 15 A7: 8 A8: 10 A9: 24 |
| B. Forestry improvement | Forest management of pine (B1), cork oak (B2) and accasia (B3) stand; Assisted natural regeneration (B4 Pine/ B5 cork oak); improvement of plant health (B6) and others | B1: 9,002 ha B2: 1,911 ha B3: 2031 ha B4: 6,963 ha B5: 320 ha B6: 11,500 ha |
| C. Forest ecosystem rehabilitation | Forestry plantations; plantation on wadi banks; reservoir protection; pastoral planting; seed orchards management; modernization of nurseries; nature reserves management | 5,915 ha |
| D. Soil and water conservation | Soil and water conservation (terrace construction; gully control (gabion); protection of lake (reservoir) | 6,306 ha |
| E. Forest-related research | Technical guide for reforestation in Tunisia; Strategic research for sustainable development of cork oak forests; Guide for the Community Development Plan Development and Implementation and others | 13 themes, Seven seminars, etc. |
Socioeconomic components
| Sub-components | Main activities | Achievement |
| Socioeconomic development, | Establishment of the ADG, Development of the Community Development Plan (CDP), with the livelihood improvement program such as water point development; live fence creation; fruit tree plantation; construction of training centers; creation of small-scale nurseries; improved cook stoves; livestock farming, beekeeping, vegetable and fruit tree cultivation and trail road development | ・13 ADGs were established, each of which developed its CDP. ・14 water points were developed. ・Live fence: 2,965 haFruit tree plantation: 1,566 haSeven training centersTwo nurseries30.2 km of trail road constructed and maintained |
(Source: JICA)
(Source: JICA)
(Source : JICA)
(Source: JICA)
(Perspectives on sustainability)
- The Agricultural Development Group (ADG) was established and collaborated with agricultural agencies and NGOs to take account of residents’ needs and reflect them in their Community Development Plan (CDP). The ADG is a community-based organization comprising forest users. Each ADG developed its development plan based on its needs and cooperating related governmental technical agencies such as an agricultural office.
3. Analysis of the approach
3-1. Impact
- Including the socioeconomic component has reduced residents’ pressure on forest resources. (89% of the respondents in the beneficiary survey answered that the natural environment had improved)
- It is acknowledged that developing forest firefighting infrastructure (i.e. fire breaks and watchtowers) helped reduce the spread of forest fires.
- The volume of illegal logging incidents in the Project area decreased from 2,298 cases in 2002 to 1,703 cases in 2007.
- Tunisia’s forest area increased from 959,000 ha in 2000 to 1,200,000 ha in 2007. Of the increased 241,000 ha, the Project contributed 2.5%. The total area planted by the Project was 5,915 ha.
3-2. Lessons learned
- The integrated approach clearly improved the population’s living conditions: they confirmed that their activities had diversified and their incomes had increased.
- In projects that adopt “integrated management”, it is expected that activity proposals exceeding the original functional scope of the implementing agency will emerge. Accordingly, there is a need to build a system capable of cooperating with other stakeholders within the executing agency.
4. Relevant information
| NbS Approach Category | 3-6. 25 |
| Title of the project from which the approach is derived | Integrated Reforestation Project / Projet de Gestion Intégré des Forêts (TS-P20) |
| Country | Republic of Tunisia |
| Biome | Mediterranean forest/woodland, arid and semi-arid forest/woodland |
| Implementing term | 2000-2007 |
| Implementing organizations | Japan Forest Technology Association (JAFTA) Oriental Consultants Global (OCG) |
| Supporting organizations | ・Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ・PCI (Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd.) – ExA Consult – Japan Forest Technology Association |
| Report/Tool/Guideline | ・Reforestation Guide ・Development and Implementation Guide for the Community Development Plan ・Ex-post evaluation of JICA ODA loan project “Integrated Reforestation Project.” |
| Contributors to this article | TEJIMA Shigeharu /Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. |