Carob Tree Development: A Strategic Lever for Economic and Ecological Growth
The General Directorate of Forests (DGF), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tunisia, organized a Carob Tree Day dedicated to developing the value chain of this forest species with high potential. This event is part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Forest and Range Development and Sustainable Management.
This meeting is part of a dynamic aimed at promoting sustainable forest management and supporting the green economy, making the carob tree a strategic lever for economic and ecological development. Often referred to as the "Tunisian gold tree," the carob tree stands out for its resilience to climate change, its role in combating desertification, and its significant economic valorization prospects.
Objectives and Participants
The event brought together public officials, DGF and UNDP experts, researchers, civil society representatives, farmers, nursery operators, and private sector actors. The stated objective is to make the carob tree sector a pillar of the Tunisian forest economy, through sustainable production and better valorization of its products, including pulp for animal feed and seeds used for extracting carob gum, which is prized by the food and cosmetics industries.
Priority Axes
The work focused on several priority areas, including:
- Improving production through the selection of grafted varieties and the development of local nurseries capable of providing quality plants.
- Structuring the sector by organizing producers to facilitate access to markets, financing, and processing units.
- Valorization and innovation, with the carob tree seen as an opportunity for diversification for agri-food and non-food industries.
- Normalizing harvesting practices and investing in transformation technologies to efficiently extract carob gum, which is in high demand on export markets.
Environmental Benefits
The development of the carob tree has been presented as a model of agroforestry contributing to ecosystem restoration, combating erosion, and adapting to climate change, in perfect consistency with the objectives of the national strategy.
Commitment and Future Steps
On this occasion, the Director General of Forests emphasized that the carob tree represents a sustainable investment for the future of rural areas, highlighting the shift from a conservation logic to a productive and inclusive management of forest resources, thanks to the support of the UNDP. The UNDP Resident Representative indicated that supporting this sector contributes to the creation of green jobs and the strengthening of the economic resilience of forest communities, in an approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The momentum given by this Carob Tree Day reflects a strong commitment from the Tunisian authorities and their international partners to transform the potential of this resource into tangible economic value. The next steps should include the launch of dedicated microfinancing mechanisms and the establishment of a quality label for Tunisian carob.
