A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

Wetland Tourism: Tunisia - Lake Ichkeul

Tunisia, Lake Ichkeul, Water buffalo © Photos DGF

Lake Ichkeul is one of the most important at various stages in its history.
wetlands in the Mediterranean region. It is a
major stopover point for hundreds of thousands of The rest of the National Park has a semi-arid
migrating birds, such as ducks, geese, storks and Mediterranean flora that includes olive groves,
pink flamingoes, who come to feed and nest there. ‘maquis’ evergreen scrub habitats, juniper and
The lake supports a rich fish fauna including eels, other mountain shrubs. The lake has extensive
mullet, sole, sea bass, barbel, and seahorses. In beds of pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) that
addition to its ecological importance, the lake is a is the major food plant for wintering ducks, and it
popular site for tourism and recreation; the lake is fringed by reedbeds, rushes and Tamarix scrub
itself covers 8,500 hectares (85 km2), and the Park that provide habitat for many birds and other
also includes a further 2,740 ha (27.4 km2) of species that thrive around the lake.
marshes and a mountain area of 13.6 km2 that
includes the Djebel Ichkeul. It is a National Park, a Lake Ichkeul is one of the most important
Ramsar Site, a Biosphere Reserve (MAB), and a wetlands in the Mediterranean region. It is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. major stopover point for hundreds of thousands of
migrating birds, such as ducks, geese, storks and
Ichkeul is the last remaining lake in a chain that pink flamingoes, who come to feed and nest there.
once extended across North Africa. The area has The lake supports a rich fish fauna including eels,
been settled by people since pre-Roman times and mullet, sole, sea bass, barbel, and seahorses. In
has been used extensively for hunting and fishing addition to its ecological importance, the lake is a

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism,
to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012. www.ramsar.org/tourism
1
 A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

popular site for tourism and recreation; the lake at various stages in its history.
itself covers 8,500 hectares (85 km2), and the Park
also includes a further 2,740 ha (27.4 km2) of The rest of the National Park has a semi-arid
marshes and a mountain area of 13.6 km2 that Mediterranean flora that includes olive groves,
includes the Djebel Ichkeul. It is a National Park, a ‘maquis’ evergreen scrub habitats, juniper and
Ramsar Site, a Biosphere Reserve (MAB), and a other mountain shrubs. The lake has extensive
UNESCO World Heritage Site. beds of pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) that
is the major food plant for wintering ducks, and it
Ichkeul is the last remaining lake in a chain that is fringed by reedbeds, rushes and Tamarix scrub
once extended across North Africa. The area has that provide habitat for many birds and other
been settled by people since pre-Roman times and species that thrive around the lake.
has been used extensively for hunting and fishing

Tunisia, Lake Ichkeul, Flamingos © Photos DGF

Lake Ichkeul’s rich ecosystems Between 1992 and 2002, the hydrological balance
depend on annual variations in water levels and was disturbed as a result of two prolonged
salinity that result from a complex hydrological droughts and by diversion of a large amount of the
balance between seasonal inflows of freshwater water from the rivers flowing into the lake. This
from six rivers that feed into the lake and flows of led to major declines in the lake’s ecosystems,
water between Lake Ichkeul and the sea via the with a fall in its productivity, loss of key habitat,
Tindja canal. When freshwater inflows are high and a major reduction in the populations of
during the winter rains between October and waterbirds using the lake and its surroundings.
March, the lake level rises, its salinity falls, and Wintering waterfowl numbers decreased from
excess water flows into the sea. When freshwater 200,000 to 50,000. These problems have been
flows are low, the lake level falls, and seawater rectified by the implementation of active water
then flows into the lake via the Tindja canal, thus management practices to ensure that Lake Ichkeul
raising the salinity again. receives sufficient freshwater inflows to sustain its
ecological value and productivity, and to control

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism,
to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012. www.ramsar.org/tourism
2
 A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

salinity by regulating seawater inflows through and local villages, birdwatching, mountain biking,
the Tindja canal. caving, hiking and sports trekking on Djebel
Ichkeul, which rises 500 metres above the lake
Lake Ichkeul National Park now receives around and offers panoramic views of the marshes. The
50,000 visitors each year, double the number in park also includes Roman remains and natural hot
2005 when the park’s ecosystems were still springs close to the lake which feed traditional
recovering. The majority of visitors are Tunisians, Hammams (hot baths). Some longer horse or
who also visit and stay in neighbouring towns. camel trekking excursions around the edges of the
The Park offers many attractions for tourists, lake are also available, with visitors camping
including nature trails and guided excursions, a overnight by the lake shore.
museum, sightseeing in the douars (tented camps)

Tunisia, Lake Ichkeul, Welcome Centre, © Photos DGF

The Park authorities actively promote tourism to contribution to employment and the local tourism
Lake Ichkeul and its surrounding areas through economy in the villages and towns around it. For
tour operators, travel agents, and the Tunisian example, local people frequently organize open
National Tourist Organization. It is included in days to sell the agricultural produce from the
travel guides and brochures, and has been the surrounding areas.
subject of several television programmes, which
have also helped to encourage tourists to visit the Management of the site is complex: the lake,
Park. mountain, and some marshland are state property,
owned by the Direction des Forêts, Direction des
By attracting large numbers of visitors to the Ressources en Eau and Terres Dominiales, while
region, Lake Ichkeul makes an important most of the marshland is privately owned. Six

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism,
to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012. www.ramsar.org/tourism
3
 A Ramsar Case Study on Tourism and Wetlands

government departments have responsibilities for team that was created for the GEF project and
different aspects of the Park: for administration, includes the different stakeholders.
lake waters, marshland, fisheries, agriculture and
environmental planning. Maintenance of the The Park is surrounded by areas of intensive
park’s ecosystems also depends on management arable farming, orchards and pasture. There are
of upstream freshwater resources. also several settlements on the edges of the Park.
Despite enforcement efforts, illegal hunting,
Between 2003 and 2008, funding was obtained grazing and quarrying pose continuing
through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to management problems for the Park. Impacts from
prepare and start to implement a Development tourism are kept low by prohibiting general access
and Management Plan (DMP) and a Community to the marshes and the lake, by creating special
Development Plan (CDP) for Lake Ichkeul National circuits, with observation towers and lookout
Park. These plans were approved by all parties in points offering views of all the ecosystems in the
2007. Their main features are: the progressive park and well-signed trails for visitors, and by the
establishment of an autonomous management use of trained guides. The main problem is litter
structure with clear decision-making processes and wastes left behind by tourists, particularly at
for the Park; development of zoning within the weekends, which the Park then has to collect to
Park; management of water resources through prevent damage to wildlife.
consultation with the authorities responsible for
the dams and through use of mathematical A number of activities have been undertaken over
models; participatory management with local the past two years to improve the Park’s tourism
communities; and generation of income from the infrastructure. Various community outreach
Park through sustainable tourism. The Ichkeul activities targeted at both the local population and
National Park Management Committee has also the wider public have also been undertaken,
been formed with representatives from local including school visits to the Park.
inhabitants, the Ichkeul Agricultural Development
Group (an association of local farmers and Promoting the National Park and surrounding
inhabitants), government departments, and other areas as a tourism destination has helped to raise
stakeholders. awareness about conservation and the importance
of the sustainable use (“wise use”) of wetlands,
The Park is currently managed by the Regional and has generated income that has contributed to
Commission for Agricultural Development (RCAD) maintaining the Park’s infrastructure, including its
attached to the Ministry of Agriculture. In visitor centre, and to conservation management.
addition, two agencies, the ANPE and the Forestry The Park now has a programme of support,
Department, are involved in monitoring the Park, including basic training and credit schemes, to
and there remains a need to ensure a permanent, increase the involvement of local businesses and
harmonized structure with clear decision-making communities in tourism activities, in order to
mechanisms. The role of joint programming, expand local employment and economic benefits
monitoring of implementation, and coordination from tourism.
is currently fulfilled by the project management

Sources:
Information provided by Habib Abid, Direction Générale des Forêts, Ministère de l’Agriculture, Tunisie
Valeurs attractives du Parc National de l’Ichkeul (PNI) – Rapport remis à la DGF, juillet 2005
Plan d’aménagement et de gestion (PAG)
Plan de développement communautaires (PDC)
« Tourisme dans les parcs nationaux de Tunisie, cas de l’Ichkeul », thèse de doctorat en géographie,
université Provence, France, par Mme Salma Zaiane Ghlia.

The Ramsar Secretariat selected 14 case studies for a publication on wetlands and sustainable tourism,
to be launched at the 11th Conference of Parties, July 2012. www.ramsar.org/tourism
4