Using Erosion Mapping for Assessment of Biophysical and Socioeconomic Factors in O. Rmel Watershed (Tunisia)

The Mediterranean coastal areas are undergoing both natural and human activities which tend to affect its resources and the community's quality of living. In addition, the agriculture activities of population have led to noticeable environmental degradation including soil erosion. This document has been prepared with the technical and management assistance of the Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) of the Mediterranean Action Plan. Two pilot areas were chosen in O. Rmel watershed according natural and physical diversity: Ethological, morphological, and hydrological behaviour. Obviously, the two areas have lots of differences in terms of their problems which make the assessment of their degradation processes more meaningful and educational for the purpose of the project. The PAP/CAR approach integrates biophysical and socio-economic components of land degradation at different scales, recognizing that socio-economic issues are also driving forces of pressures that impact on land conditions. This study starts with the predictive soil map (result of diagnostic analysis) according to physical parameters: slope, soil cover, land use and agro practice, which allows later to produce maps showing erosion risk and land degradation processes in the two regions. The second component is to analysis of the human impact and economic activities that cause land degradation on stabilized and unstable areas, in order to identify prioritize areas for intervention. Finally the third component was to consolidate the outline of management planning activities based on remedial measures desired. These activities were supported by Geographic Information System (GIS) which includes all produced data.