ALBAWABA - Environmental experts in Tunisia are warning of the imminent danger facing the country's cork "pumice" forests due to climate change and droughts. The National Agricultural Observatory predicts that thee forests of Tunisia could lose 18000 hectares by 2050 if current factors persist.
Factors such as fires, logging, overgrazing, and climate change-induced tree deaths have contributed to the decline of these forests. This poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of Tunisian families, as the sector currently provides employment for 5000 people.
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Preserving the cork forests of Tunisia is challenging due to their value as a natural resource and their economic benefits. Both natural causes, such as fungal diseases and rising temperatures, and human causes, including unauthorized tree cutting, have led to the decline in these areas.
Fires alone have destroyed 17500 hectares of cork forests of Tunisia over the past five decades, according to the Tunisian News Agency. To address these challenges, authorities must prioritize the issue and take immediate action to save the forests from extinction. Efforts by the General Department of Forests and the Research Institute have slowed down the decline, supporting programs to utilize cork as a valuable resource.
Cork forests, which previously covered a significant portion of central Tunisia, offer economic benefits. However, climate change and drought have caused substantial shrinkage in these forested areas.
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Effective plans to help the forests adapt to climate change are necessary. The cork forests of Tunisia contribute up to 50% of the revenue from forest products and are vital to Tunisia's private sector. However, annual cork production has decreased from 9000 tons to 4000 tons.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, the recent rains have provided some relief by preventing the destruction of the Zayatin forests. Careful planning and efficient water management are crucial.
Experts emphasize the importance of restoring burned forests and call for mobilizing resources and establishing a dedicated fund to finance projects focused on adaptation and resilience to climate change. This will benefit countries, particularly Tunisia, most affected by these climate-related challenges.
