Kneiss Islands conservation project concludes in Tunisia

The Association pour la Continuité des Générations (ACG) held a closing workshop in Tunis for the ‘PIK’ (Preserving the Kneiss Islands) project. Funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, the initiative focused on protecting the biodiversity of the Kneiss Islands archipelago in the Gulf of Gabès.

The archipelago is a RAMSAR-recognized wetland and a Mediterranean Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (ASPIM). It serves as a critical habitat for up to 330,000 wintering birds, including species such as the Dunlin.

Key achievements of the project included implementing nature-based solutions to combat climate change and rising sea levels. On El Bassila Island, artificial nests were installed to support breeding for species like the Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, and Eurasian Oystercatcher. Additionally, scientific monitoring was conducted on rare Zostera noltii seagrass beds, which act as fish nurseries and stabilize the seabed. To combat coastal erosion, salicornia was replanted along the shoreline to stabilize the soil.