Rural Population Perceptions on Anti-Silting Managements in Kebili Governorate, South Tunisia

Abstract

Lambin [1] affirmed that the definition of desertification used by the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) makes it clear that, whilst biophysical components of ecosystems and their properties are involved (e.g., soil erosion, loss of vegetation), the interpretation of change as 'loss' is dependent upon the integration of these components within the context of the socioeconomic activities of human beings. The CCD's definition of desertification explicitly focuses on the linkages between humans and their environments that affect human welfare in arid and semi-arid regions. In Tunisia as in many regions of the world, desertification and silting are an adversity to economic development and environment. This study aims to bring out population perceptions determinants about this scourge on the governorate of Kebili, located at the south of Tunisia. Several efforts have been made by the administration since the 1980s to combat silting. We conducted this research with the view to study population’s perceptions towards realized management against silting and desertification. We need to know the factors that make these managements not evenly successful at all the governorate zones. Therefore, we conducted a socio-economic survey: among the population with concern to examine the reaction of the inhabitants towards these anti-silting structures and strategies.