TUNISIA DESERTIFICATION

Nick Brown

One major problem throughout Northern Africa is desertification, Tunisia having one of the worst overall soil conditions of all. Poor farming techniques such as overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion, and a limited supply of natural sources of freshwater are all contributing to the problem of desertification. Agricultural land is growing extinct, not only because of desertification, but also because of increased salinity and siltation due to increased erosion of soil. Desertification and Tunisia’s failure to dispose of toxic and hazardous materials now endanger the health of its human population. Extinction is a common factor in the country of Tunisia not just in terms of plants and agricultural crop, but animals and humans. (see Threatened/Extinct species data tables) Living conditions are so bad currently, that animals don’t have a supporting environment and humans can barely get by. (soil erosion is leading to increased siltation and salinization of Tunisia's freshwater supply) Also, like many countries, Tunisia has fallen far short of the ideal global total of ten percent of its land under some sort of environmental protection, protecting less than half a percent of its land. (.3%)

Threatened Species

Mammals	17
Birds	6
Reptiles	2
Amphibians	0
Fish	0
Invertebrates	5
Plants	1

Extinct Species

Mammals	1
Birds	0
Reptiles	0
Amphibians	0
Fish	0
Invertebrates	0
Plants	792

*One of the many barren wastelands of Tunisia*