Land use and recent morphodynamics in the watershed of the sabkha of Ariana (North-East) Tunisia

In Tunisia, the wetlands are at the top of the most threatened natural ecosystems. Hence, these territories are losing their natural spatial function and being regulators of the risings and are being transformed. The situation of these wetlands becomes critical and is then likely to become a problem blocking the process of development. The sabkha of Ariana is part of a series of wetlands skirting the coast of the Gulf of Tunis. Its situation characterized by the proximity with the urban area of Tunis, confers to it a potential of high development for recreational activities. Concerned of its environmental and economic interest, the Tunisian state delegated to the APAL the mission of its cleansing and its planning. In spite of the thorough studies carried out for more than ten years, the environmental problems and the natural constraints still persist in the sabkha and around its banks. Constraints related to the fact of not consulting the local population for decision making, the emergence of conflicts between users, and the lack of the necessary financings for the execution of the projects make the protection of the sabkha very difficult.