Forest Land in North-Eastern Algeria : Spatial Dynamics and Social Practices

Forest land, encompassing all lands dedicated to forest management and conservation, represents a major strategic challenge for the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of territories. In a global context marked by increasing environmental pressures, forest land intersects with several complex issues, such as biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, land rights of local communities, and the effects of climate change (Lala Razafy, 2012; Gaudillière, 2024; Verdeaux, 1999). The management of these lands relies on a delicate balance between economic exploitation, ecosystem preservation, and the respect of the rights of populations living near forests, while considering the diversity of land tenure systems that vary according to national and local contexts (FAO, 2020; Le Bouler, 2024).

Forest land ownership models are particularly diverse. In some countries, forests are primarily public and state-managed, as in Algeria, while in others, they are mostly private or governed by customary systems (Fernande, 2017). This diversity in tenure generates specific challenges related to forest governance and the implementation of conservation or sustainable management policies (Guérin-Turcq, 2023). Indeed, conflicts related to usage rights, resource management, and land grabbing are frequent, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where forests are often seen as spaces to exploit rather than resources to conserve (Ott-Duclaux-Monteil, 2013).

The Mediterranean basin, a true crossroads of cultures and biodiversity, is increasingly subject to environmental and socio-economic pressures, making natural resource management, particularly forests, especially complex. Forest land, encompassing all lands dedicated to forest management, is at the heart of debates on territorial planning, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. In this region, forests, though covering relatively small areas, play a fundamental role in ecosystem regulation, soil and water protection, biodiversity conservation, and serve as essential resources for local communities through timber exploitation, grazing, or the collection of non-timber forest products (Khaldi & Lanly, 2019; FAO, 2018). However, the management of this forest land is becoming increasingly complex due to urbanization, agricultural and industrial pressures, fire risk management, and the effects of climate change.

In this context, forest tenure systems and management models vary significantly across Mediterranean countries, which are shaped by different traditions and histories of forest ownership and use. Differences in land tenure generate tensions regarding land use between economic development, ecosystem conservation, and protection of local populations' rights (Verdeaux, 1999). Additionally, forest property fragmentation complicates the implementation of coherent and sustainable forest management, posing challenges for coordination among public, private, and community actors.

Ecological challenges related to forest land in the Mediterranean basin are exacerbated by climate change, which intensifies droughts and increases the frequency and severity of forest fires, threatening the resilience of Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Moreover, local communities, often dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods, face land grabbing, urbanization, and deforestation pressures while needing to respond to environmental conservation imperatives. Forest management in this region therefore requires an integrated approach, considering environmental, economic, and social stakes while ensuring inclusive and effective governance.

Algeria, a country with diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity, faces major environmental challenges, particularly regarding the management of its forest resources. Forest land in Algeria, representing about 12% of the national territory, plays a crucial role not only in ecosystem conservation and erosion control but also in the livelihoods of many rural communities. However, its management faces complex problems, from forest degradation and frequent fires to increasing pressures from agricultural and urban activities. These challenges highlight the need for in-depth reflection on land tenure, governance, and public policies related to forests in Algeria, a country where tensions between natural resource conservation, economic development, and local population rights are pervasive (Seddik Haichour & Benabdeli, 2022; Abdelfettah, 2014).

The main challenge for forest land in Algeria lies in intensified deforestation and soil degradation, particularly due to forest fires regularly affecting coastal and mountainous regions. These fires, amplified by climate change, cause significant ecological losses and increase desertification risks. Furthermore, land grabbing for agricultural, tourism, or real estate projects, along with fragmentation of public forests, exacerbates challenges for sustainable forest land management (Benabdeli, 2016; BNEDER, 2009). These phenomena hinder biodiversity conservation and the ability of forests to perform essential ecological functions such as climate regulation and water resource protection.

It is therefore imperative to understand how tenure systems and governance mechanisms influence sustainable management of forest land in Algeria, and how cooperation among various actors could enhance forest resilience against current challenges.

The management of Algerian forest land is marked by complex dynamics, where human pressures—including urbanization, intensive agriculture, infrastructure development, and illegal forest resource exploitation—significantly influence forest space dynamics, land use, and ecosystem sustainability (General Directorate of Forests, 1999).

At the core of this issue lies a critical question: how do human pressures, through various forms of forest land use, alter Algerian forest dynamics and affect sustainable management? Indeed, forests, largely dominated by public tenure, are subject to often uncoordinated exploitation practices, sometimes contrary to conservation objectives proclaimed by the state. Conflicts between different uses (agricultural, pastoral, recreational, and forestry) are increasing, governance models are fragmented, and integrated forest management is scarce.

Human pressures on forest land in Algeria are particularly pronounced in peripheral areas of large agglomerations, where urban and industrial development needs conflict with natural space preservation. In rural areas, gradual deforestation from fuelwood harvesting, extensive agriculture, and village infrastructure development contributes to increased forest landscape fragmentation. These human pressures, combined with environmental phenomena such as desertification and recurrent fires, lead to rapid forest ecosystem degradation, compromising their resilience to climate change and soil degradation risks (Borsali, 2013; Bouzid et al., 2021; Centre Technologic Forestal de Catalunya, 2015).

The central issue of this research project is thus to understand how human pressures, through multiple uses of forest land in Algeria, influence forest management dynamics and affect long-term sustainability. What are the consequences of current forest land use patterns on territorial structuring, forest ecosystem conservation, and conflict regulation? How can public policies respond effectively to these challenges?

To address these questions, this research aims to explore these issues by analyzing the spatial dynamics of forest land in eastern Algeria, studying sustainable forest management mechanisms, and decoding the impacts of current public policies on local forest land exploitation practices. The study will emphasize interactions between various actors (public administration, local authorities, private actors) in forest land and forest management more generally. It will also examine the impact of population growth, rural economic dynamics, and urbanization on forests while analyzing innovative solutions that could promote more balanced and sustainable forest resource management.