Silvopastoral Systems Are Transforming Land and Livelihoods in Tunisia

In the heart of Tunisia’s Zaghouan Governorate, a quiet but powerful transformation is taking root, driven by the collaborative efforts of ICARDA, the Direction Générale des Forêts (DGF), the Commissariat Régional de Développement Agricole (CRDA), and the Chahda local community.

This initiative, anchored in scientific research and powered by native species, is restoring ecosystems and renewing livelihoods. Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), a native forage legume, is at the center of this change, revitalizing degraded silvopastoral landscapes while strengthening rural economies through sustainable land management.

From State Land Trials to Private Commitment

Under a collaborative program between ICARDA, DGF, and CRDA, Sulla was first introduced on state-managed silvopastoral lands as part of a broader ecosystem restoration initiative. Selected for its drought tolerance, nitrogen-fixing capacity, and high nutritional value for livestock, sulla quickly proved its worth.

The monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact assessment (MELIA) study revealed remarkable ecological and economic benefits: biomass production surged by 440%, plant cover improved by 330%, and species diversity doubled. The grazing period also tripled, significantly reducing the need for costly supplemental feed. These ecological gains translated into better livestock performance with lambs and kids gaining 5–10% more live weight, and cows producing 15–25% more milk, which will undeniably boost household incomes and food security.

These findings and strong community engagement encouraged local farmers to experiment with Sulla on their private lands. What began as research and then a government-led effort has evolved into a community-driven movement. Farmers who once passively benefited from improved communal grazing areas are now actively investing in the system, seeing sulla as a forage crop and a gateway to resilience and sustainability.

Transforming Lives: Voices from the Community

Haitham Ben Ali, a determined young man with no land of his own, found new hope through the Sulla innovation. After seeing its success on restored state lands, he boldly decided to sell his car, his main source of income, to buy four cows. Thanks to access to Isulla-reseeded grazing areas, where feeding one cow typically costs 15 Tunisian Dinars (TND) per day, his animals now graze on nutrient-rich forage for a modest fee during at least two months of the season. This has saved him around 900 TND per cow. With better nutrition, the cows produce more milk, generating steady revenue that he can reinvest in feed once the grazing season ends.

 

 

“Sulla offered me a sustainable livelihood where none existed before,” he stated.

 

“We are fortunate to be part of the community benefiting from sulla. Livestock is our main source of income. I’ve learned how to plant sulla, and the growth is excellent - my animals love it. I now graze my animals on the state lands and the sullaon my private plot will be harvested and stored as hay. This gives me security for the four months ahead,” said Dalila, a farmer participating in the pilot efforts, also sharing her experience.

A Model for Resilient Rangelands

The Zaghouan silvopastoral pilot site, established through the joint efforts of ICARDA, DGF, CRDA, and local communities, shows what’s possible when science meets tradition and partnership drives progress.

With the integration of native forage species, rigorous monitoring, and strong local ownership, land restoration becomes not just an environmental intervention but a catalyst for economic empowerment and rural resilience.

Seeing Is Believing: A Shift in Mindsets

Thanks to continuous technical guidance, local silvopastoralists are witnessing tangible improvements such as increased livestock productivity, reduced feed cost, improved soil fertility, and more stable incomes. With growing confidence in the system, many are now requesting sulla seeds for their private plots, which is clear evidence of its potential for large-scale adoption and long-term sustainability.

Contributing Scientists:

Dr. Sawsan Hassan, Associate Scientist - Forage Agronomist, ICARDA

Dr. Azaiez Ouled Belgacem, Rangeland Ecology and Management Specialist, ICARDA

Dr. Mounir Louhaichi, Research Team Leader - Rangeland Ecology and Forages, ICARDA

In collaboration with:

Mr. Mohamed Naoufel Ben Haha – Director General, General Directorate of Forestry (Tunisia)

This work is supported by the PRIMA TransforMed project and the CGIAR Science Program on Multifunctional Landscapes.