Protection of the North West Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) and related humid zones and ecosystems

The project for the Transboundary Aquifer System of the Northern Sahara (Algeria, Libya and Tunisia) has as its objective the protection of this critical resource, and in particular of the recharge areas and humid zones and ecosystems related to the aquifer. It includes two complementary components: (I) improving the knowledge of the aquifer and related ecosystems and (ii) implementing a consultation mechanism at the hydrogeologic basin level. In the three countries concerned - Algeria, Libya and Tunisia - the management of the NWSAS water resources will cover arid and semi-arid areas that are presently affected by desertification. Recent assessments have indicated the partly renewable nature of this aquifer, and hence the opportunity for its sustainable management, which would necessarily include the protection of water quality (recharge areas) and of humid zones, such as oasis, shebkas etc, which are critical from the socio-economic and environmental points of view. The project represents a significant first step in this direction taken by the three countries.