Incidence de la fluctuation des précipitations sur l'occupation des sols dans les hautes plaines de Sidi-Bel-Abbès (Algérie)

• Main Authors: Baroudi Meterfi, Noreddine Letreuch-Belarouci, Khéloufi Benabdeli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Physio-Géo 2011-09-01
• Series: Physio-Géo
• Subjects: Algeria; land use; rainfall; Sidi-Bel-Abbes; steppic zone; Aerodrome
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/physio-geo/2059

The decline of rainfall in the highlands of the south-western Algeria has caused profound changes in occupation and management of areas. Economic activity in this region is strongly influenced by climatic fluctuations and traditional modes of exploitation of agricultural land. The analysis of the actual space occupancy and of its dynamics permits to understand the different stresses applied on these ecosystems and to measure the environmental and social impacts of climate change. The aim is to understand the evolution of the production systems and to identify and control the parameters that affect its dynamics for better use of these spaces. The impact of the increase in aridity is evident at all levels: high concentration of population at the urban centers, regression of spontaneous plant formations, increased agricultural land and livestock numbers sheep leading the region towards the crop-livestock production system.High plains of Sidi-Bel-Abbes are involved in all development programs of the steppe. They present themselves as a reference region of South Oran and are therefore an ideal space to measure the impact of planning policy taking not into account climate parameter and its fluctuation.