Enhancing Multifunctional Landscapes through the Cultivation of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

Abstract

This report presented an initiative to integrate aromatic and medicinal plant cultivation into silvopastoral systems in Tunisia, focusing on Zaghouan and El Kef. Tunisia’s forest and rangeland ecosystems had been crucial for sustaining rural livelihoods, livestock production, biodiversity, and climate resilience. However, climate variability, prolonged droughts, overgrazing, and unsustainable harvesting practices had threatened both ecological integrity and rural income stability. To address these challenges, ICARDA, the Direction Générale des Forêts (DGF), the Regional Commissariats for Agricultural Development (CRDA), and the Rural Women’s Support Division collaborated to distribute approximately 15,000 seedlings and provide capacity-building training for farmers. The program emphasized structured cultivation of aromatic species over wild collection, highlighted ecological benefits, cultivation best practices, and market opportunities. Participatory discussions allowed farmers to share experiences and address challenges such as water scarcity, seed quality, and post-harvest processing. By promoting collective organization, technical capacity, and institutional collaboration, the initiative reduced pressure on natural forests, enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem services, and generated alternative income streams—particularly for women—supporting sustainable rural development in semi-arid landscapes.