Journal Article

Coastal Wetlands and Water Bodies of the Southern Mediterranean Bank

Oueslati, Ameur

2020

Overview

Wetlands and water bodies exist in different parts of the southern bank of the Mediterranean Sea, mainly on the eastern basin and notably at the bottom of the largest gulfs and bays of the Tunisian coasts (Bay of Bizerte, Gulf of Tunis, gulf of Hammamet and Gulf of Gabes), in the gulfs of Bomba and Syrte, in Libya and on front of the Nile Delta in Egypt. The Moroccan and Algerian coasts have not yielded considerable wetlands and water bodies because of the uneven coastal topography. But, they contain some of the largest lagoons These lands are sometimes very extensive and very remarquable in the landscape of different coasts. Their diversity appears through their geomorphological features as well as their climatic context, genesis and history. Moreover, their location, mostly at the junctions of the sea and rivermouths, makes of them transitional ecosystems and interface areas. Following a geomorphological approach, this work aims to show landscape specificities and the variety of dynamics in wetlands, unfortunately yet largely neglected and often considered as repellent or insignificant milieus. This work also aims at underscoring the risks that these lands run; they are for instance considered among the most endangered natural systems, be it due to unbecoming human behavior or natural hazards present or expected over the next decades such as sea-level rise A good definition of these milieus and a good knowledge of their cultural and environmental advantages as well as the importance of their analysis for the reconstruction of paleoenvironments, can help to better understand the aptitudes of an undeniable part of the coastlines for management and to better develop prospective approaches.

• Publisher: جامعة تونس - كلية العلوم الإنسانية والإجتماعية
• Subject: إدارة المخاطر / البحر الأبيض المتوسط / الجيومورفولوجيا / المخاطر البيئية / المغرب / تونس