Tabias and Jessour in Tunisia's Southeast: Ancient Water Management in Arid Landscapes

Traditional water management systems—Jessour and Tabias—enhance water retention, soil conservation, and aquifer recharge in Tunisia’s arid regions. Jessour use stone dams and earth dikes on slopes to trap runoff, reduce erosion, and increase water availability by over 300%. Tabias, suited to gentle slopes and deep soils, employ lateral dikes and flood diversion to support fruit trees and crops. Both systems mitigate floods, protect infrastructure, and stabilize ecosystems. Challenges include climate variability, limited funding, and technical expertise. Projects by INGREF, the Tunisian Ministry of Environment, and EU initiatives support modernisation and scalability. These time-tested techniques remain critical for agricultural resilience and water security in marginal lands.