1 Sustainable Management of Scarce Resources in the Coastal Zone Wp 09: Regional case study: TUNISIA SMARTSMART

2 Geographic and climatic characteristics The tunisian coastline spans 1300 km 75% of the territory suffers from the aridity The northwestern part of the country gets between 500 and 1500 mm of precipitation per year The dry season is too long In the south, precipitations don’t exceed 150mm (per year) Except for the north, all the regions suffer from the drought No big rivers exist except the Medjerda’s The southern part of the country is a part of the Sahara

3 More than 500 mm 400 mm to 500 mm 300 mm to 400 mm 200 mm to 300 mm 100 mm to 200 mm Less than 100 mm Rainfall map Legend

4 (Millions) Population’s growth Socioeconomic characteristics

5 (%) Urban population’s evolution Socioeconomic data

irrigation Drinkable water industry total 1, , Water consumption (Millions m 3 )

7 Socioeconomic frame Demographic growth Rise in the standard of living Urban extension Increase in the irrigation practice Industry and tourism development Water resources pressure

8 Politic frame 1- Water resources planification Guideline plan for the water use in The north The center The south

9 Politic frame 2- Water resources uses hydraulic infrastructure:  dams  hill dams  lakes  underground water  surface wells use rate  Surface water 76%  underground water 95%

10 Water use development Potential water resources: 4470 millions m 3

11 Politic frame 2- Water resources uses Unconventional water use artificial refill of underground water treated water brackish water 3- Water resource management Wise management of available water Controlling the needs Pollution prevention

12 Problems Dam silting up Hydrogeological system fragility Mediterranean climatic inter annual variability Poor water quality (salinity higher than normal) Overexploitation and water waste

13 New water resources use has however become more difficult. (The saturation of the use of such a resource is expected to happen in 2015). As a consequence, Tunisia will face a major challenge: the rational exploitation of an increasingly scarce and expensive natural resource. This challenge is linked to other constraints and problems such as food security, unemployment and regional imbalance. The tunisian case study in the SMART project fits perfectly the sustainable tunisian policies regarding development. Strategic trends of the tunisian policy

14 Problem of water use in the coastal zone 1-Rapid land use change and conflictual land exploitation: Agriculture Industry Tourism Urbanization 2. Demographic pressure population growth migration

15 3- Unbalance of ecological and physical coastal systems Overexploitation of underground water and salt water intrusion in the immediate coastal zone Reduction of the refillment area of the underground resource (urban extension) Coastal sedimentary dynamic disturbance 4- pollution Industrial water waste management Urban water waste management Solid waste management Problem of water use in the coastal zone

16 Investigation areas Tabarka Gulf of Hammamet Gulf of Gabes

17 Tabarka a Major problems: Impact of big hydraulic structures on yhe coast and on the coastal water areas Water waste in the irrigation process Worsening of underground water quality (overuse of pesticides in agriculture) Tourism development Urban planification

18 Hammamet a Major problems: Competition between agriculture and tourism as far as water use is concerned Overexploitation of underground water and sea water intrusion Extraordinary urban expansion Coastal disturbance of the coastal dynamics as a consequence of touristic developments Waste management

19 Gabes a Major problems: Competition between agriculture and tourism as far as water use is concerned Overexploitation of underground water and sea water intrusion Industrial pollution Waste management

20 Thank you for your attention