I. BACKGROUND

The area of Tannourine is constituted of a principal village and 17 small villages. The registered population is estimated at 30 000 persons however now 5000 persons, mostly farmers, are living in the area. The rest of them have been obliged to leave the country or to immigrate to cities in order to find a job.

The area is approximately 96 square km. The agricultural land is composed of irrigated fields (10 square km), non-irrigated deserted fertile land (10 square km), forest areas (20 square km) and mountainous communal land rich in its wild flora especially edible, medicinal and aromatic plants.


II. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Dozens of medicinal and edible plants that naturally grow during spring time are subject to extinction due to intensive consumption by the locals as an income generating source or as food or medicinal recipes.


III. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the program are as follows:
? Protect biodiversity of flora subject to extinction
? Sustainable use of the rich biodiversity
? Increase income of local inhabitants and reduce immigration and internal migration from the area to the cities
? Combating desertification through reducing soil erosion by green covering of mountainous areas.


IV. ACTIVITIES

PHASE I
? Establishment of a pioneer Project for production of edible, aromatic and medicinal plants.
? Establishment of a processing and packaging facility for the Products.
? Formulation a marketing plan based on a survey
? Capacity building for farmers on biodiversity conservation

PHASE II
? Orientation of farmers on planting products under demand
? Distribution of seeds and seedlings to farmers
? Follow-up on plantation
? Marketing the products.