Sfax thyna Lions'club

District 414 Tunisia

Preservation
of natural resources in Kerkena Isles

 

Project financed by  :

 Global Environmental Fund
March 2002

1) Introduction

Kerkena isles constitute an insular surrounding presenting extremely-rare biological characteristics and an exceptional ecological wealth. these riches, added to the original local traditional practices such as the traditional way of fishing, make of this archipelago a highly-valuable patrimonial zone that we have to protect.

Kerkena isles constitute an insular surrounding presenting extremely-rare biological characteristics and an exceptional ecological wealth. these riches, added to the original local traditional practices such as the traditional way of fishing, make of this archipelago a highly-valuable patrimonial zone that we have to protect.

Kerkena isles form a small insular surface. Yet, it is a coveted site despite its limited capacities.

Hence, projects from here and there are made, emphasizing the following :

Making specific researches about holding the traditional ways of exploiting sea products (traditional fishery, octopus fishing, use of small boats...)

Making specific researches about holding the traditional ways of exploiting the terrestrial natural resources.

The principal results expected from the project are :

1) Keeping the traditional practices that may disappear forever.

2) Helping the people regain the local know-how to preserve the natural surrounding.

3) Stopping the destruction of the natural surrounding.

4) Upkeeping palm-trees, fruit-trees and traditional fishery.

5) Female empowerment in keeping a balanced natural surrounding.

6) Exchanging experiences with the non-governmental organizations concerning the integrated administration of the insular ecosystems.

2) The main incentives behind such activities :

Tunisia has declared its determination to preserve its genetic patrimony including palm-trees and fruit-trees fit for the insular soil. Moreover, Tunisia has ratified the convention on biodiversity and has encouraged numerous studies on the biological diversity conducted within the framework of the biodiversity project (Global Environmental Facilities) which envolves 21 studies.

These studies have been made on a national scale, and the insular surroundings do not represent a focus despite their biological particularity

The Tunisian report presenting a synthesis of those studies consecrated the sub-chapter 7-3 to the marine and terrestrial flora of the isles. It dealt with the northern isles : Zembra, Zemretta, the Galite, and the southern isles : Djerba and Kerkena. However.

The elements provided in this sub-chapter are far from being complete and sufficient.

Traditional fishing and traditional agriculture :   They live a crisis due to the neglect of the traditional practices, the conversion of the people to other activities outside the archipelago and the backward movement of the upkeep of the palm and fruit trees and traditional tools of fishing.

The absence of an approach of integrated administration : of the archipelago and the non-adaptation of the local structures to the requirements of this fragile environment, added to the new obstacles faced while exploiting the natural resources (water - soil - flora...) are caused by the execution of many projects, some of which are hardly adaptable to the capacities of the archipelago and its population.

The execution of such projects in these circumstances leads the people to think about the balance on their isles. Besides, this means the loss of an important part of the Tunisian and Mediterranean natural patrimony.

The role of women has always been crucial to the development of all the activities and the protection of the environmental and social balance on the territory of the archipelago.

3) Purposes of the project :

The project is aimed at developing a new approach to deal with the archipelago of Kerkena based on :

- Participation of the population in the preservation of the biodiversity and the protection of the natural resources.

- Evaluating the local know-how in running the natural resources.

- Reinforcement of the role of women in the safeguard of the local know-how by using the insular natural resources.

- Finding a better way of administering and dealing with the territory of the archipelago.

4) Expected Results :

The results expected from the project are :

- The improvement of the population income and the involvement of women in the preservation of the traditional activities on the isles.

-  The development of an approach of integrated administration based on participation.

-  The establishment of an inventory with the cooperation of specialized institutions and with the involvement of students preparing end-of-studies projects.

-   The development of cooperative relations and the exchange of experiences with other non-government organizations or structures dealing with the biodiversity and the long-lasting development in the insular milieus.

5) Expected impacts on the environment :

The activities mentioned above will contribute to :

1- The preservation of the biodiversity and the evaluation of the genetic patrimony.

2- The transmission of the traditional know-how concerning the preservation and the rational use of the biodiversity.

3- The upkeep of the traditional agriculture and fishing.

4- Sensitizing the population and authorities to protect this specific ecosystem.

5- The exchange of experiences in long-lasting development in the insular milieus .

The environmental impacts will have important socio-economic repercussions on the local population : the output will improve and new activities will develop.

The impact on women will also be important through the evaluation of the traditional activities and the development of new activities going with the requirements of the isles.

6) Activities of the project and chronology :

Activities of the project 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Activity 1.1 : Inventory, recording and documentation of the know-how related to the exploitation and evaluation of the biodiversity in Kerkena. x x x x                           Activity 1.2 : Organization of a national workshop on the biological biodiversity in Kerkena.             x                     Activity 1.3 : Realization of a publicity spots on the biodiversity in Kerkena for a wide diffusion.                 x                 Activity 1.4 : Creating a web site on the biodiversity in Kerkena.                             x x   Activity 1.5 : Sponsoring a radio programme.           x x x x x x x x x x x x Activity 2.1 : Urging students in the University of the South to prepare end-of-studies memoirs on the local know-how to preserve the insular biodiversity.                   x x     x       Activity 2.2 : Organization of " practice days" dealing with the plan of development of Kerkena.                       x x x x x   Activity 3.1 : Personalized support to the development of the know-how safeguard for twenty of so women.             x x x x x x x x x x x Activity 4.1 : Organization of a day about the biodiversity in Kerkena ( activity 4.1) for which the environmental non-governmental organizations will be invited.                             x x   Activity 4.2 : Creating a web site about the project.                         x x

Final report and Recommendations of the workshop to
launch the project about the preservation of natural
resources in Kerkena isles

In March, 2nd, 2002, Sfax Thyna, lions club organized a workshop at Aziz residence to launch the project on the preservation of natural resources in Kerkena.

Mr Mohamed Ennabli, minister of the environment and arrangement, presided over the opening session with the presence of the local responsible like Mr Abdelkefi Baoundi, national co-ordinator of Global Environmental Funds, non-governmental organizations, representatives, researchers and citizens.

  After the opening session, participants were divided into 3 groups to discuss the following topics :

Recommendations

1) The know-how and the sea :
- Creation of a natural reservation around Kerkena isles : height 5m ; depth 5m ; width 10m.
- Urging fishermen not to use destructive techniques.
- Creation of an association to protect the seaboard.

2) the know-how and palm-trees
- Making a list of all species in order to choose those that can be adapted for commerce.
- Training young people to use the agricultural techniques for palm-trees.
- Evaluation of palm-trees residues.
- Creation of a prairie of bio-diversity.
- Fixing a day on palm-trees in which citizens, farmers, associations and the administration participate.

3) Atelier du savoir faire et la femme
- Participation of all the population in the realized projects in order to put an end the exodus.
- Financial encouragement to reinforce the relation of women with the land ; establishment of an educational farming center a and encouraging fig-tree growing.
- Reopening the national center of handicraft and creating a center to teach the weaving of carpets and margums.
- Forming research teams to preserve the environment :
  Creation of a data bank.
  Establishment of a center for the creation of women.
  Creation on a local association to preserve nature.
  Reinforcement of the textile association