Land Cover/Land Use Dynamics in Arid Mediterranean Fragile Ecosystems and its implications on Economic and Environmental Imbalances, southern Tunisia

Abstract - The Tunisian arid environment has been the scene of profound territorial transformations characterized by a speculative agricultural influence on fragile steppe ecosystems. The Skhira region is a typical example through which this work proposes to follow these transformations and analyze their socio-economic and environmental impacts. To do this, a GIS database was created on QGis software, using two satellite images (from 1996 and 2020). Land cover/Land use maps obtained were supplemented by forty farmers’ field surveys and interviews with decision-makers involved in agricultural activity. The results showed an extension of irrigated crops by 14.4% to the detriment of steppes and rainfed cereal crops. This intensification was the result of an incentive policy undertaken in the region since 1993 and originally aimed at small farmers but which, after 2011, was taken over by a group of large farmers who intensified the exploitation of limited resources. This has resulted in a degradation of biodiversity with the disappearance of several vegetation species, overexploitation of water resources which reached 216% in 2020, groundwater and soils salinization and greater exposure of crops to the harmful effects of climate change and desertification. On the social level, and although several productions have declined following the degradation of resources, the profits have been mainly drawn by the large farmers. This agricultural extension, especially the irrigated one, has failed to limit inequalities between social categories. On the contrary, the economy of Skhira’ peasants is increasingly precarious and the social situation risks breaking out for this marginalized rural population.