Enhancement and Conservation of the Oasis Wetlands of Douz

 

Local Organization: Association Tunisienne de l’Énergie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (AT3E)
Mentor Organization: Association “Les Amis des Oiseaux” (AAO / BirdLife en Tunisie)
Award Amount: €10 000
Project Type: PROZHUM Mentorship Project
Duration: September 2025 – November 2026
Project Contact: Moujib Gabous, moujib.gabous@aao-birdlife.tn
Keywords: Hydrology ; Awareness ; Training

Zone humide Douz Laala © Skander Zarrad – AAO/BirdLife en Tunisie

Summary

The project supports the protection and sustainable management of fragile oasian wetland ecosystems in Douz, southern Tunisia, which play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and in sustaining local livelihoods through water and land resources. These ecosystems are increasingly degraded due to poor drainage management, illegal hunting, pollution, and urban expansion, while local actors lack the technical capacity and tools to respond effectively.

Within this project, the local CSO AT3E will strengthen local capacities, assess and improve water management, and raise awareness among communities and decision-makers. Through training sessions, participatory studies, and communication campaigns, it will enhance ecological conservation, foster inclusive governance, and promote the long-term valorisation and resilience of Douz’s oasian wetlands as natural assets for both people and nature.

Objectives

  • Reinforce the capacities of the local NGO AT3E at data collecting, analyzing and usage to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of oasis wetlands.
  • Improve wastewater management in selected wetlands of Douz, through a participatory evaluation and the elaboration of an Action Plan in order to optimise their ecological value.
  • Raise awareness among local communities and decision-makers towards the ecological but also socioeconomic importance of oasian wetlands, as a source for their preservation, human pressure reduction and their biodiversity appreciation.

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.