Island wetlands of Tunisia

Dakhlet El Melah is located at the south-south-eastern edge of Chargui island in Kerkennah Archipelago, just outside the village of El Ataya. The whole area was included in the national wetlands' inventory under the code 169 (Hughes et Al, 1997). It is an extended coastal sebkha with an elevation that ranges from 0 to 2.5m above sea level (Topography Map, 1973; Etienne, 2011). It is covered in seawater whenever the tide is advanced or the wind is strong. As for freshwater, it comes entirely from precipitations during autumn and winter and it stagnates in the area for weeks. At the north-eastern part of the system, a small area is used by local fishermen to keep the boats and at the back side, along the northern part of the wetland; urbanisation is continiously progressing and new houses are being built. Whereas inside the wetland, 3 football fields are present, large quantities of garbage and debris are being thrown and in the future, a new road will be constructed; bringuing more pressure to the area. The dominant flora species in the wetland are Salicornia europaea L., and Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott. Arthrocnemum macrostachym (Moric.) K. Koch and Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb.are also present. [Field visit: Th. Giannakakis, K. Charfi, I. Rais & M. Ouali 05/2018]