Aleppo Pine in Tunisia: Ecology, Management and Uses

INCREDIBLE project has supported the production of the book edited by Dr. Mohamed Larbi Khouja, with the scientific contribution of researchers from the National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF) in Tunisia.

The publication “Aleppo Pine in Tunisia: Ecology, Management and Uses“, originally in French, deepens in the knowledge of the Aleppo pine in the Mediterranean and, more specifically, in the Maghreb area. For a long time, the forests of this species were neglected in favour of other species of oaks and cork oaks, leaving them to the fate of herds and forest fires. Historically, Aleppo pines in both Tunisia and Morocco have not been seen as a source of ecological, economic and social services.

However, this book aims to change perceptions and point out the forest assets of these forests that can offer a wide variety of services and products such as sawn timber, forage, honey, essential oils, seeds; as well as having intrinsic qualities that make these pines very resilient species due to their resistance to cold and drought as well as their capacity for natural regeneration. Thanks to the versatility of the research included, this document aims to be a reference work for a wide range of readers: researchers, teachers, students, technicians, planners, consultants, decision makers and the general public.

The publication consists of 16 chapters, which are based on an analysis of the lessons learned during more than 50 years of experience in Tunisia. It addresses a wide range of topics from ecology, physiology, genetics, phytosociology, forestry, entomology, to forest management, socioeconomics, production and biotechnology of species (wood and non-wood forest products) in the Tunisian context. Beyond this body of knowledge, the publication opens up prospects for new topics that have not been dealt with in any significant way to date.

Along all the chapters, concrete solutions applicable on the ground are proposed, which allow, within the framework of a peaceful coexistence of forests with their users, and taking into account global warming, sustainable forest development in the hope that the Maghreb region can contribute to the green economy through its Mediterranean forests.

Full reference

Khouja Larbi, M (ed.). 2020. Le pin d’Alep en Tunisie: Ecologie, gestion et usages. INRGREF, 248-274. ISBN 978-9973-0994-0-2.