Last updated: October 2021
In November 2019 the municipality of Hammam Sousse alongside one of the local schools initiated a climate intervention by planting trees next to the banks of the river Oued El Hammam. The municipality of Hammam Sousse is located in the central-eastern part of Tunisia (Sahel region), and as a coastal city, it enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with a dry summer. The Mediterranean region is ranked among the regions which are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the intervention focused on implementing solutions to mitigate these effects. (1,2)
Planting trees
https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/eu-in-action/stories/clima-med-budding-eco-warriors-fighting-climate-change
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
The Mediterranean is a climate change hotspot region. Increased water scarcity, rising temperatures and desertification are becoming a yearly occurrence in the life of everyday citizens. To respond to some of these challenges the Municipality of Hammam Souse initiated the intervention having on their agenda the following goals:
1. A medium-term goal of the intervention is to transform a site next to the banks of Oued into a fitness trail and an urban garden.
2. To promote environmental protection by raising awareness among all citizens, stakeholders, influentials and decision-makers to safeguard the natural resources of the country.
3. To increases the resilience of the local community, particularly the most vulnerable and women in particular.
4. To tackle greenhouse emissions by planting trees.
5. To enhance energy security and the adaptive capacity of the city and the country of Tunis.
6. To improve climate change governance.
7. To protect and conserve the biodiversity of one of the richest areas in biodiversity, home to thousands of species of flora and fauna. (1,5,6)
Implementation activities
In November 2019 the municipality of Hammam Sousse and a local school met on the banks of Oued (the river crossing the locality) to plant bushes and trees. Most of the children were middle schoolers accompanied by a natural science teacher. By around 2pm, all the trees had been planted: 300 myoporum plants (good for pollinators), 150 ficus plants and 150 Aleppo pines The children had already gone home. Local workers took over to pat down the soil and train the trees and shrubs to protect them from high winds. (1)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- EU body
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The intervention was led by the municipality of the city under an EU program. The municipality managed the funds and envisioned the stages of the implementation. The school was involved in the implementation stage. Other citizens were present during the action. (1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The intervention was part of the Clima Med program. The overall objective of CLIMA-MED is to enhance the energy security and adaptive capacity of partner countries while fostering their transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, thereby contributing to more stable, efficient, competitive and climate-resilient socioeconomic communities, while at the same time increasing energy independence and reducing emissions. The project objective is in line with and part of the “Energy security and Climate action in the Southern Neighbourhood 2017-2018” programme, which was adopted by the European Commission in 2017. The project started in June 2018 and will end in June 2022. (5))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(It is mentioned that the intervention came after a local reforestation plan was demanded by the citizens of Hammam Sousse. The local reforestation plan was part of the participatory democracy adopted by the town, involved the planting of 5,000 trees. The sources also mentioned that Clima Med provides technical assistance to support the creation and implementation of Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs), which will comply with the principles of the Global Covenant of Mayors and will help to define practical measures to be implemented by local authorities in the Southern Neighbourhood. (1, 6))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. EU Neighbours (2020), Clima-Med: Budding eco-warriors fighting climate change, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
2. Clima Med (no date), Hammam-Sousse, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
3. Clima Med (2020), As part of SEACAP development activities with the Clima-Med project team, a new series of workshops was held for Tunisian municipalities representatives to assist them in identifying potential climate actions, available at Source link, (accessed 28-9-2021)
4. Clima Med (2019), Handbook - SEACAP Training in Tunisia, October 2019, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
5. Clima Med (no date), CLIMA-MED: Acting for Climate in South Mediterranean, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
6. Clima Med (2019), Acting for Climate in South Mediterranean (conference), available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
7. Clima Med (2019), Journee de plantation 2019, Tiznit, available at Source link, (accessed 28-9-2021)
8. Zvi Mendel (2000), The phytophagous insect fauna of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia forests in the Mediterranean, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
2. Clima Med (no date), Hammam-Sousse, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
3. Clima Med (2020), As part of SEACAP development activities with the Clima-Med project team, a new series of workshops was held for Tunisian municipalities representatives to assist them in identifying potential climate actions, available at Source link, (accessed 28-9-2021)
4. Clima Med (2019), Handbook - SEACAP Training in Tunisia, October 2019, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
5. Clima Med (no date), CLIMA-MED: Acting for Climate in South Mediterranean, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
6. Clima Med (2019), Acting for Climate in South Mediterranean (conference), available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
7. Clima Med (2019), Journee de plantation 2019, Tiznit, available at Source link, (accessed 28-9-2021)
8. Zvi Mendel (2000), The phytophagous insect fauna of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia forests in the Mediterranean, available at Source link (accessed 28-9-2021)
https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/eu-in-action/stories/clima-med-budding-eco-warriors-fighting-climate-change
https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/eu-in-action/stories/clima-med-budding-eco-warriors-fighting-climate-change
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.