title: [Threats to and conservation of North African wetlands: the case of the Ramsar site of Beni-Belaid (NE Algeria)].
abstract: Because of their biogeographical and geomorphological context, the northeastern Algeria wetlands present high species and community richness. The vegetation study of the Ramsar site of Beni-Belaid (Kabylia) showed the existence of four main communities, distributed along gradients of hydrology and disturbance. The obtained results reveal worrying threats on short term: overgrazing results in the lake invasion by the sand eroded from the coastal dune; agriculture induces illegal cutting, water pollution and excessive groundwater pumping; finally, hunting and fishing are illegally practiced into the Ramsar site. The awareness of public authorities is needed in order: (1) to completely protect the wetland with the aim of restoring a riparian forest belt; and (2) to initiate a campaign for increasing the local population awareness, and its involvement in conservation programs.
authors.affiliation: Département biologie animale et végétale, université Jijel, Algérie.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouldjedri
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Bélair
authors.forename: Boualem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayache
authors.forename: Serge D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000639:trends*; D003625:Data Collection; D005618:Fresh Water; D005843:Geography; D060587:Groundwater; D060106:Lakes; D010944:Plants; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014197:Trees; D014876:Water Pollution; D014881:Water Supply; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide