biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

5.4.12. Orbata Reserve 260 ha
A 260 ha area at the base of Djebel Orbata was fecced ic 1969 to
protect dorcas gazelles acd thejr habitat. Since thee, ostrSch acd
Europeac daim were ictroduced to the reserve acd have been iccreasicg ic
numbers. The gazelles, ostrich and daim are too numerous to be supported
by the cat~ral vegetatioc, so small irrigated gardec plots are caltSvated
to prodace alfalfa acd other forace.
A cumber of acimals (mostly roc-cative) are kept ic a small zoo at a
corn-er of the reserve to provide p~blic educatioc acd a recreatioc area.
The adjacect moactaic is also protected from hucticg acd grazicg, but
little active maca~eme~t is dore.
5.4.13. Dar Chichou Managed Reserve 100 ha
Ic 1964 a resf-ve was created et Dar Chichoc or the Cap Boc pecicsula.
The 3 remaicicg female Ichkeul b~ffalo (see Sectjoc 2.4) were brozght to
the reserve acd ac Italiac nale buffalo was inported to start a breedicg
progran. The program was successfA acd a small herd was retalced at Dar
Chichod whec the rest of the b;ffalr, were reictrod~ced to Ichkezl X.P.
Ecopeac daim arf also kept jr the reserve.
5.4.:4. Proposed Biosphere Reserve at Jeceic - Oued Ouci 360,000 ha
A large area of S~bdesertic Cocticectal Steppe (~ectioc
3.5.4) south
of Remada has beer. recommecded to be established as a Biosphere Reserve.
The area coctaics a variety of desert flore acd fazna threateced by
caltivatioc, overgrazicg acd desertificatioc. Sjosphere Reserves are cot
strict reserves througho~t, so a variety of projects desigced to ercourage
sersible lacd use acd combat desertificatioc should be implemected.
Currectly the project is rc?t a high priority of the Forestry Directorate.