21 September 2012: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of Tunisia has designated two wetlands of International Importance, Barrage Mlaabi and Complexe des zones humides des Chott el Guetayate et Sebkhet Dhreia et Oueds Akarit, Rekhama et Meleh.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the first site, Barrage Mlaabi, is a freshwater storage area on the Cap Bon peninsula constructed mainly for ground water recharge, serving today as irrigation for summer plants. It supports several populations of migratory waterbirds and North African endemic species. Agricultural activities are carried out on the site.

The second site, Complexe des zones humides des Chott el Guetayate et Sebkhet Dhreia et Oueds Akarit, Rekhama et Meleh, comprises intertidal marshes situated in an estuarine coastal environment. It supports several waterbird species and several fish species, including migrating species. Its main hydrological values include groundwater recharge, water retention and flood regulation. Activities carried out on the site include agriculture and fishing.

Tunisia’s designations contribute to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]