<p>Natural habitat fragmentation occurs when the number and size of urbanized regions increases while the number and size of natural habitats decreases as a result of intensive farming and forestry operations. Thus, landscape ecology can assist in the design and identification of patterns of connectivity, particularly species movement. In addition, the concept of ecological corridors is not new, although it has been part of the history of urbanism for more than a century. It is a more environmentally friendly urban thinking. It aims to preserve the ecosystem’s functionality and to conserve biodiversity from the impact of natural and human activities while promoting sustainable land management. This concept has been applied in several countries, but less used in Africa and absent in Tunisia. For that, we focus on the Sousse North region, central-east of Tunisia. The main objective of this study is to model and map the ecological corridors regarding mitigating habitats fragmentation for biodiversity in this region. In the first step, focal species were identified and the characterization of the study territory in three constituent habitat networks based on its geographical location, its functional and patrimonial interests, and its evolutionary trend. In the second step, the fragmentation of terrestrial barriers was studied. Then, ecological corridors were mapped by crossing the ecological habitats with the barrier layers. The results reveal three potential ecological networks: the wooded, steppic, and blue habitat networks of the Sousse North region, which make up 10%, 35%, and 15% of the study area, respectively. This gives decision-makers a scientific foundation for improving ecological network resilience and habitat conservation in Tunisian regions, which will help them achieve national sustainable development.</p>

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Ecological corridors to reduce habitats fragmentation in North Africa-Tunisia

  • Safa Bel Fekih Boussema,
  • Faiza Khebour Allouche,
  • Rania Ajmi,
  • Marianne Cohen

摘要

Natural habitat fragmentation occurs when the number and size of urbanized regions increases while the number and size of natural habitats decreases as a result of intensive farming and forestry operations. Thus, landscape ecology can assist in the design and identification of patterns of connectivity, particularly species movement. In addition, the concept of ecological corridors is not new, although it has been part of the history of urbanism for more than a century. It is a more environmentally friendly urban thinking. It aims to preserve the ecosystem’s functionality and to conserve biodiversity from the impact of natural and human activities while promoting sustainable land management. This concept has been applied in several countries, but less used in Africa and absent in Tunisia. For that, we focus on the Sousse North region, central-east of Tunisia. The main objective of this study is to model and map the ecological corridors regarding mitigating habitats fragmentation for biodiversity in this region. In the first step, focal species were identified and the characterization of the study territory in three constituent habitat networks based on its geographical location, its functional and patrimonial interests, and its evolutionary trend. In the second step, the fragmentation of terrestrial barriers was studied. Then, ecological corridors were mapped by crossing the ecological habitats with the barrier layers. The results reveal three potential ecological networks: the wooded, steppic, and blue habitat networks of the Sousse North region, which make up 10%, 35%, and 15% of the study area, respectively. This gives decision-makers a scientific foundation for improving ecological network resilience and habitat conservation in Tunisian regions, which will help them achieve national sustainable development.