UMBRELLA Tunisia: OSS Places Inclusive Consultation and Scientific Expertise at the Heart of Land Degradation Monitoring

Tabarka, Tunisia | 20–21 October 2026

The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Environment, is organizing the third and final regional information and training workshop in Tabarka, on 20–21 October 2026, dedicated to the preparation of Tunisia’s 2026 National Report to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Held under the UMBRELLA-2 project, this workshop concludes a series of regional consultations initiated in Zarzis and subsequently continued in Kairouan. It aims to strengthen national capacities, consolidate environmental data, and promote greater involvement of local stakeholders in land degradation monitoring.

Scientific Expertise Supporting a Participatory Approach
The workshop adopts a collaborative approach, bringing together public institutions, technical services, Regional Agricultural Development Commissions (CRDAs), natural resource managers, and civil society representatives. This diversity of stakeholders provides an opportunity to combine scientific knowledge with field experience, while taking into account the environmental and socioeconomic characteristics of northwestern Tunisia.

OSS plays a central role in this process by mobilizing its expertise in Earth observation, geospatial analysis, and capacity building. Its environmental monitoring tools and indicators, particularly those developed at a spatial resolution of 30 meters across the African continent, provide a scientific foundation for better understanding land degradation and restoration dynamics.

The workshop focuses primarily on the UNCCD 2026 reporting requirements and the analysis of the three sub-indicators of SDG Indicator 15.3.1: changes in land cover, land productivity, and soil organic carbon stocks.

Through discussions and group exercises, participants contribute to reviewing mapping results, identifying information gaps, and validating data. A field visit will also provide an opportunity to compare satellite-based analyses with local conditions, thereby improving their accuracy and relevance.

Strengthening National Coordination and Ownership of Results
Beyond its technical dimension, the workshop provides a platform for institutional dialogue and experience sharing, aimed at strengthening coordination among stakeholders involved in sustainable land management.

By facilitating skills transfer, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of scientific tools, OSS supports Tunisia in consolidating a more reliable, participatory, and locally adapted national monitoring and reporting system.

This approach contributes to the country's efforts to achieve its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) commitments by 2030, while demonstrating OSS's contribution to bridging scientific expertise, institutional action, and sustainable natural resource management.

The UMBRELLA-2 project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with technical support from the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS).