Role of livestock practices in the degradation of steppe spaces in Naama area (south-western Algeria)

Steppe spaces of the Naama area are rather well representative of all steppe spaces of western Algeria. They are exploited as rangelands with a mean carrying capacity of 10 sheep / hectare although the possibilities are only of 0.9 ha / sheep. Traditional livestock systems as currently practiced overexploit and degrade all kinds of vegetation along the year. They constitute the main threat on the sustainability of plant formations. The impact of the even archaic practices of livestock occurring in Naama area, as in all the steppe spaces of Algeria, result in a yearly average regression of the density of 278 tufts / hectare. Concerning the total green biomass, we observe a mean annual reduction of 183 kg / ha. This impact is important and represents a serious short-term threat to the everlastingness of the steppe with Stipa tenacissima if no protective and rehabilitation measures are quickly undertaken.