National Parks
The country is home to a number of protected areas dedicated to conserving the environment, welcoming visitors and raising public awareness. These include
Boukornine National Park: located near the capital, this park is home to remarkable mountain ecosystems. More than 200 species of flora can be found here. The park also boasts a great diversity of wildlife.
Ichkeul National Park: located in the north of the country, this is a veritable reservoir of biodiversity. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Man and Biosphere Reserve, it is home to many migratory birds around Lake Ichkeul. Threatened for a time by an increase in salinity linked to water abstraction from upstream streams, an emergency plan was put in place under the aegis of UNESCO, which came to an end in 2006.
Chaambi National Park: located in the west of the country, it is home to the country's highest peak, as well as exceptional biodiversity. Also classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, it will delight visitors with the beauty and diversity of its environments.
Bouhedma National Park: located in the center of the country, in a transition zone between the Sahara and the Mediterranean, it protects a wide variety of environments, including mountain ecosystems (Atlas) and wooded steppes.
Jbil National Park: Tunisia's largest national park, in the south of the country, preserves ecosystems characteristic of the Sahara. It is also home to a number of archaeological sites.
Jebel Chitana - Cap Négro National Park: protects a remarkable biodiversity of flora and fauna, including endemic species. Mediation activities enable visitors to learn about farming practices and discover traditional plant-related knowledge.
Zembra and Zembretta National Park: located in the Gulf of Tunis, this park is home to the islands of the eponymous archipelago. A UNESCO biosphere reserve, it protects the habitats of endemic plant species as well as endangered avifauna (Mediterranean shearwater). It is also a superb hiking area.
The prevalent issue of waste
Waste collection, treatment and recycling are still inadequate in Tunisia. This is evidenced by the inability of the infrastructure to process household waste, which ends its life in open dumps, a situation that gives rise to major environmental and health issues. In 2019, the Borj Chakir landfill catches fire. In 2020, another scandal splashed all the way to the Minister for the Environment, who was sacked on suspicion of corruption in connection with the illegal import of waste from Italy. The affair was revealed by the media in November 2020, before being taken up by the courts. The object of the offence? Containers that had arrived at the port of Sousse a few months earlier: officially plastic waste destined for recovery at a recycling center in the country. In fact, it was waste assimilated to household refuse and "hospital waste". An Interpol report from 2020 also highlights the increase in illegal plastic waste flows since 2018 (linked to China's import ban on this type of waste). While Tunisia will still be among the countries most affected by plastic pollution in the world in 2024, the government has announced the obligation of selective sorting in public establishments. A small step towards tackling this urgent issue!
The challenges of agriculture
Tunisia's agricultural model (mainly for export) is based on the exploitation and use of phosphate, which is used due to the poverty of the soil. Yet phosphate extraction and processing are highly polluting and energy-intensive. They contribute to chronic environmental contamination, and are suspected of having serious health impacts. Agricultural irrigation, for its part, is the main source of water consumption in a country that is highly water-stressed and has leaky networks. Excessive pumping of water resources in certain areas has led to salinization, making water consumption unfit for human consumption. The war in Ukraine has accelerated the question of self-sufficiency: once the granary of Rome, Tunisia now suffers from water shortages. Faced with these facts, action has been taken. Desalination plants exist, but they have the disadvantage of being energy-intensive and polluting. Another solution is to reinject treated water from wastewater treatment plants into groundwater. Launched in 2013, the " Reverdir la Tunisie " project is developing another agricultural model, based on the enhancement of ecological processes and inspired by permaculture, and has led to the creation of several "oasis-forests".
Preserving the Mediterranean
As an outlet for domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents, the Mediterranean suffers from a multitude of pollutants. The dilapidation or undersizing of certain wastewater treatment plants further exacerbates this contamination. The textile industry, which is very present in Tunisia, contributes to this pollution (as well as being a major consumer of water).
Coping with climate change
Tunisia is among the Mediterranean countries most vulnerable to climate change. It could aggravate the phenomena of coastal erosion, water stress and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme events (droughts, floods). It poses the threat of desertification. Tunisia has ratified the Paris Agreements and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, including a target of 30% renewable energy production by 2030. These objectives are in line with the climate challenge, but are considered unattainable by NGOs.
The challenges of tourism
Tourism is linked to all of the country's environmental issues. It exerts pressure on resources and environments (land artificialisation, pollution linked to waste) and generates greenhouse gas emissions (transport). It is also threatened by climate change (risk of coastal flooding, loss of biodiversity and shortage of resources). However, it is possible to act, by promoting soft mobility, a zero waste approach, responsible purchasing, all of which are valid during the trip but also in everyday actions. Many tools exist to guide you in this quest (Ademe, WWF, zerowaste guides).
