URBAN SATURATION IN ALGERIAN CITIES: FACTORS AND TREATMENT METHODS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE CITY OF TÉBESSA

Abstract

Throughout history, cities have undergone transformations due to social, urban, environmental, and economic changes, which have contributed to altering their shape, and growth patterns. This evolution has led to continuous urban expansion in response to the increasing needs of the population, resulting in boundless urban sprawl. The constant effort to provide urban services has driven the integration of new land areas within the framework of urban expansion, often at the expense of the surrounding rural areas, which serve as the city's main life source. These rural areas are the primary base for urban expansion and simultaneously the main supplier of labor and raw materials. Currently, urban expansion in Algerian cities, in general, and in Tebessa in particular, poses challenges in urban development and planning. This situation calls for exploring alternative approaches when natural or human barriers prevent the optimal use of urban land in alignment with the city’s needs, leading to urban saturation. These approaches should consider the principles of sustainable urban development and rely on tools focused on protecting natural resources within and around the city, as cities are not only the main threat to the natural environment but also the first victims of its degradation.