Abstract
Impact of protection on the fight against desertification in the steppe rangelands : the case of Naâma region (south-west of Algeria) The fight against desertification in the region of Naâma begins with restoring severely degraded steppe rangelands. In this context several hundred thousand hectares of pastoral land were exempted from agropastoral activities and protected from grazing for 25 years. The present study aims assess the impact of this technique on combating against desertification in the steppe environment. The methodological approach is based on comparative analysis of the vital ecosystem attributes (VEA), it assesses degradation status or restoration of the structure and the function of steppe grazing exclosure areas and other neighbouring areas located outside the protected area. The results highlighted significant differences between unprotected plots and exclosures whatever the duration : an increase in species richness, species diversity, recovery rate of vegetation, plant biomass and organic matter in the soil was noted in the protected plots. This enhancement ensures both greater stability against various disturbances and proper functioning of the steppic ecosystem. However, this protection causes the extension of the hardpan layer on the ground. It also results a decrease of the floristic richness and diversity in formally protected rangelands compared to those with an average length of protection (5-7 years).
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