Tunis — In order to remedy the depleting water resources currently affecting the Ickeul natural park covering some 12,000 hectares and comprising a lake as well as marshes, the regional authorities are currently building 6 major dams destined to collect rain run off water in order to provide fresh water inflow, and reverse the increase of salinity the park has been witnessing these last years.

The lake and the surrounding marshes are home to waterfowl such as ducks, geese and pink flamingoes, as well as an important number of migratory birds.

In 1996, the Ichkeul natural park was inscribed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.

The dams which are being built on the two basins of Ichkeul and Sejnene will total a capacity of 137 cubic meters of rain water and will contribute to raise the water level from 68% to 85% of the rate of run off water in the area.

The regional agricultural development office (crda) estimates the amount of rain water run off at 592 cubic millimetres per year.

However the regional authorities are also tabling on increasing the surface of irrigated areas around the city of Bizerta which should allow for the creation of more than 20,000 jobs in the agricultural sector.