In brief
In a press release issued on Nov. 3, 2026, Tunisia announced an action plan to reforest 30,000 hectares of forest over a ten‑year period. The plan, backed by Xinhua and the Tunis Afrique Presse, aims to recover from over 74 k hectares lost to fires between 2011 and 2025 and includes large‑scale seedling production, modern infrastructure and partnerships with private and civil‑society actors.
Tunisia announced on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, a ten‑year action plan to reforest 30,000 hectares of forest, according to a report from Xinhua and the Tunis Afrique Presse.
The plan follows extensive forest losses from fires between 2011 and 2025, when 74,602 hectares of forest were destroyed and the government reported financial and economic losses of about 241.16 million Tunisian dinars (roughly 80 million U.S. dollars).
Scope of the Reforestation Program
The strategy prioritizes cork oak and Aleppo pine, two species well suited to the local Mediterranean climate. In the 2026‑2027 season, the plan will target 24,000 hectares, of which 15,260 hectares will be natural regeneration and 8,716 hectares will be forest and pastoral plantations.
To support the large‑scale effort, authorities intend to produce and plant 10 million seedlings, while 1.8 million seedlings will be planted as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021‑2030) in partnership with associations, civil‑society organisations and businesses.
Implementation and Monitoring Measures
The plan calls for modernising forest infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of ten forest nurseries and the installation of automated watchtowers. Digital monitoring platforms will be introduced to enable early detection and rapid response to future fires.
Water management will also be enhanced by building water reservoirs in elevated areas, and the strategy emphasizes participatory management of forest resources. Partnerships with the private sector and civil‑society organisations are expected to ensure the sustainability of planned interventions.
In line with the national emphasis on environmental awareness, Tunisia will observe a National Tree Day on Nov. 8 under the slogan “A Tree Today, a Forest Tomorrow.”
Overall, the planning documents presented by the Tunisian authorities reflect a coordinated effort to restore the country’s forest ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and engage multiple stakeholders in the reforestation process.
