Valuation and conservation actions of Chott Guadaine (Batna, Algeria)

 

Local Organization: Association Des Amis de Medghacen (AAM)
Mentor Organization: Association Nationale Algérienne d’Ornithologie (ANAO)
Award Amount: €10 000
Project Type: PROZHUM Mentorship Project
Duration: September 2025 – August 2026
Project Contact: Si Bachir Abdelkrim, si_bachir@yahoo.fr
Keywords: Ecosystem Services ;  Awareness

 

Summary

The Chott Guadaine Project aims to protect and highlight the value of one of Algeria’s last freshwater wetlands in the Aurès region, which plays a vital ecological and socio-economic role and supports rich biodiversity, including breeding flamingos and migratory waterbirds. The site faces serious degradation from drought, pollution, overgrazing, and illegal hunting, all exacerbated from poor water management caused by recent highway construction. While local managers from the wilaya (department) of Batna are increasingly interested in conserving the site, local civil societies and managers lack the tools and knowledge to respond effectively. This project builds local stewardship capacity to assess the site’s biodiversity and ecosystem services, and incorporates training sessions and campaigns to increase citizen engagement for wetland conservation and restoration.

Objectives

• Improve knowledge and assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, and cultural) in Chott Guadaine
• Capacity building and awareness raising among stakeholders (local community, Civil Society Organisations, and managers)

Resources

• Learn more about the PROZHUM project

Funding

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France.