The Pastoral Development of the Steppe Rangelands in Naâma (Western Algeria)

Abstract

Naâma province occupies 3 million hectares, rich in natural resources (biological, edaphic and water), but unfortunately it undergoes a process of continuous degradation due mainly to clearing, overgrazing, overexploitation, desertification and sand encroachment. This requires the development of steppe rangelands (protection, rehabilitation and restoration) by adopting biological measures (pastoral plantations, creation of protected areas, dune fixations, as well as afforestation and the large green dam project). The result of this approach is characterized by a particular adaptation of different measures to the biophysical characteristics of the environment and different actions undertaken for restoration and rehabilitation that are part of a national strategy for pastoral improvement of degraded steppe rangelands. The sustainability of the various measures taken requires participatory management of the local population in rehabilitation programmes.