biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

One of the goals of the catiocal park pzogram is to have a pa-b
repzesecticg each of the major ecosystems ic Tucisia. There are cu-~ectly
5 catiocal pa~ks, 2 pzoposed parks, acd 3 pzotected Feserves (figxe 16).
Non-govexnent,al sowces have recomrnecded the establishmeet of additiocal
protected areas at 19 othe:. locatiocs (IUCN l987), iccladicg the Da- Fatma
bog, 2 lagoocs, 12 sebkhets acd chotts, 3 coastal a2eas acd K,-iate
5slar.d.
The facca and flora of most of the catiocal pazks and reserves are
discussed ic sectioc 3. A good dizectory of the natiocal pa~ks acd
reserves was produced by the IUCN (1987).
5.4.1. Zembra Natiocal Park acd Biosphere Reserve 4030 ha
The islacds of Zenbra and Zembl-etta we-e desigcated Tucisiavs first
catiocal park ic 1977 by decree NO. 77-340. The ecosystem is described ic
Sectior 3.: .2.
A hotel acd Sucgalows were cocstzccted or Zemb-a acd iip to 200 people
were p:esect daily ic the sumex befo-e 1979. The islards became a
military base ic :979 acd all to~rism acd catiocal park nacagemect was
halted (IUCC :967). Fron the :360s to 1976 the~e was a na-i time reseal-ch
cente- OE Zenb-a, but it has beer. occupied by the Marice Nztiocale since
:979. Some limited ~eseaxh has beec cocducted in recect yeaxi acd there
are pxp3sals t3 -e-establish guided tos-s acd limited stags ox the
islar2.
1-!ilita-y coctrol red~ces the detrinectal effects oe the ecosystem
caused by toirists acd fishernee, but the military persoecel themselves
may be disrcpticg the ecvirocmect. Prima-y needs of Zembra rational park
a x ccrre~tly the re-delegatioc of macagemeet to the Forest7 Directorate
acd the assigcmect of adequate park persoccel.
5.4.2. Ichkeul National Park acd B2osphere Reserve 10,775 ha
Ltike Ichkeiil (~ectioc 3.3.1 .I ) acd Djebel Ichkeul (~ectlor 3.4.: .6)
were established as a catiocal pa~k by Lav l!o. 80-1608 ic Decernbe: 19e0.
Ichkeiil :!.P. is the ocly site ic the world to have the triple disticctjoc
of beicg declared a biosphere reserve (1977), iccluded oe the list of
Wetlacds of Icterxatj ocal Importacce (~amsaz Cocvectioc) and as a World
Heritage site (: 980).
Ac ecomuse.im (icfornation cecter) has beec cocstmcted oc Dj. Ichkeul
with assistacce from the British l4usezm acd the WF. The miisem is
irtecded to ed~cate the p.iblic about this very impo-tact ecosystem acd to
prmote secsible tozistic iise acd awarecess ox the pa-t of local
yesidects.
The lake is the sicgle mst imp3-tact wetlacd for bi-ds ir Ir'3rth
kf-ica, yet it is cu-rectly threatered by 6 dam p-ojects on the rfve~s
tnat pxvide Ichkeil ~ i t h fresh wat~?. A -edoctioc ir f~eshwate- :r.pi;t
wo-ld res-lt ir irc-eased saltwate- irp~t th~o3gh Oued Tirja. Chacges ic