Forest Restoration in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia Using Treated Waste Water to Sustain Smallholders’ and Farmers’ Livelihoods "FAO Project GCP/RAB/013/ITA", Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

1. Forest Restoration in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia Using Treated Waste Water to
Sustain Smallholders’ and Farmers’ Livelihoods
FAO Project GCP/RAB/013/ITA
Objective:
The strengthened the capacity and capability in the use of treated waste water in forestry and
agroforestry production methods towards achieving sustainable livelihoods in selected countries of the
North Africa Mediterranean region. This new comprehensive programme aimed and still aims at
providing a framework for more integrated, cohesive and harmonized mechanisms that help stimulate
stronger engagement and support from concerned member countries as well as mobilize additional
resources.
Arid and semi-arid zones, characterized by scarcity of water and very low forest cover are widespread
all across the globe, including the Mediterranean countries. In these areas water is the real limiting
factor to the life and to the survival of local populations and forests are still the most important source
of energy for rural people.
In Mediterranean countries natural woodland resources are inadequate to meet the increasing demand
for forest products and services. In fact, the increase of population, the corresponding need for food
and the growing demand for irrigated agriculture lead to a huge pressure on natural resources. Climate
change is also a serious threat.
The need for sustainable management of forest resources represents for developing countries a relevant
tool to combat hunger and reduce poverty through the direct or indirect provision of services that help
to increase farmers’ income.
The project built on the network of national institutions established under the initial Italian-funded
project GCP/INT/059/ITA supported over the period 2008 to 2011 in Central Asian and Mediterranean
countries, to exchange experiences and transfer knowledge and technology on forestry and agroforestry
practices, and on the use of treated waste water in forestry and agroforestry systems.
Strategy:
In order to overcome the shortage of water, countries have developed safe, environmentally sound and
cost-efficient ways to treat municipal waste water produced by communities and industries, and to
utilize it for irrigation purposes. The re-use of waste water resources allows recycling of nutrients for
productive purposes and leads to a reduced discharge of wastewater into rivers and sea. Project
activities implemented so far:
• Algeria: in cooperation with the University of Maskara (Algeria) and the Algerian General
Directorate of Forests support planting and maintenance of phyto-remediation plants: Oasis
of Brézina, El Bayadh, established by the University of Tuscia, Italy and design of a new
phyto-remediation plant in the Oasis of Taghit
•
Morocco: designing 10 ha of the green belt of Marrakech to be established with Palm trees
and ferti-irrigated with treated waste water. The green belt will be protected by a buffer zone
composed by planted forest species. The work is carried in cooperation with the University
of Marrakech, the High Commissioner of Forests and supported by the University of
Basilicata, Italy, the national Council of Research and the Research Council in Agriculture,
Italy
•
Egypt, Ismaelia (along the canal of Suez): forest management plan of the Serapium planted

2. forest, irrigated with treated waste water established by the Ministry of Agriculture and land
reclamation Undersecretariat of Afforestation. The work was carried with the support of the
University of Alexandria,the Forestry Faculty of the University of Tuscia, Italy in
cooperation with the Forestry Faculty of the University of Munich, Germany
•
Tunisia: project design of two small demonstration projects on the use of treated waste water
in forestry and agroforestry system, in collaboration with the University of Basilicata and
University of Tuscia .
•
Support cooperation and exchange of information among all the project stakeholders with
special reference to specialists and scientists of institutions involved in the project;
www.fao.org/forestry/tww