In brief
Tunisia’s new 10‑year strategy will reforest 30,000 hectares of lost woodland, following extensive fires that damaged more than 70,000 hectares. The plan prioritises cork oak and Aleppo pine, adds automated watchtowers and water reservoirs, and mobilises private and civil‑society partners to plant over 10 million seedlings.
Tunisia announced today a 10‑year action plan to reforest 30,000 hectares of land and strengthen the resilience of its forest ecosystems, a move that will directly affect the thousands of communities that rely on the country’s woodland resources for grazing, tourism and cultural identity.
The plan comes in response to heavy losses between 2011 and 2025, when wildfires destroyed 74,602 hectares of forest and cost the country about 241.16 million Tunisian dinars (roughly 80 million U.S. dollars), according to a report filed by the Tunis Afrique Presse.
Under the new strategy, the government will prioritise the planting of cork oak and Aleppo pine, species that are native to the Mediterranean climate and well‑adapted to the local conditions. The programme will also modernise forest infrastructure and introduce native plant species that match the evolving climate.
A key component of the plan is the use of digital platforms and automated watchtowers to detect fire risk early and deploy rapid response forces. Water reservoirs will be built in elevated areas to support firefighting efforts and to counter the drying trends that have exacerbated fire outbreaks.
Participation will be central. The strategy calls for stronger partnerships with the private sector and civil‑society organisations to ensure the sustainability of the interventions. These partners will help mobilise water resources and secure climate financing for the project.
For the first two years, the 2026‑2027 restoration season will cover 24,000 hectares, including 15,260 hectares of natural regeneration and 8,716 hectares of forest and pastoral plantations, as reported by the Tunisian authorities.
Authorities plan to produce and plant 10 million seedlings, rehabilitating infrastructure at 10 forest nurseries. In cooperation with associations, civil‑society organisations and businesses, 1.8 million seedlings will be planted as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021‑2030).
The government will also mark National Tree Day on Nov. 8, adopting the slogan “A Tree Today, a Forest Tomorrow” to galvanise public support for the reforestation drive.
"These measures will not only restore lost forest cover but also enhance climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and create new economic opportunities for local communities," said a spokesperson for the ministry of Environment and Administrative Decentralisation.
While the plan offers a comprehensive blueprint for forest recovery, stakeholders expect implementation will require sustained investment and coordination across multiple levels of government and the private sector, ensuring that restoration efforts reach the targeted 30,000 hectares by 2035.
