Ghardimaou: At the heart of El Feija National Park in north-western Tunisia, local communities live isolated within a lush green setting, surrounded by forested mountains and exceptional biodiversity. Far from the frenetic pace of the cities, around fifty rural families face the challenge of living under the constant watch of forest patrols. They must comply with the legal framework for wildlife and flora conservation, which severely restricts their rights to use forest products and prohibits any other activities within this protected area.

According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, the Forest Code designates forests as a national resource, thereby prohibiting the communities living within the park from engaging in any commercial or industrial activity, leading to deep social and economic precariousness. During a recent visit to the park as part of a training programme in environmental journalism, residents expressed their distress. Currently, fifteen young forest rangers work within the 'temporary forest brigade,' earning a modest monthly salary of 250 dinars, with little hope of changing their circumstances.

Mohamed Oueslati, a 30-year-old supervisor and guardian of the Atlas deer herds, the park's emblematic species, has been working in the El Feija reserve for over a decade. Despite his pride in his role, he admits, "I cannot aspire to a decent life with a salary that barely ensures survival." Similarly, Sofiane Mejajri, another young forest ranger, acknowledges the contradiction between the park's natural beauty and the poverty affecting its residents, especially during winter.

The complex procedures and lack of an appropriate legal framework hinder the residents' hopes of benefiting from ecotourism. Fares, a trained tour guide, highlights the challenges of acquiring the necessary permits for camping and hiking activities. He notes that "a little more flexibility and openness to ecotourism activities would have created economic momentum and far more opportunities" for the community.

Women of El Feija Park, such as Nakhla, who wishes to sell traditional products like mlaoui flatbread and essential oils, face similar obstacles. The need for permits and the limited influx of tourists restrict their economic opportunities. Another woman expressed her frustration, stating, "People come and go, but we remain stuck, with no hope of seeing our living conditions improve."

Noureddine Azizi, former head of the forestry district in Tabarka, emphasizes the urgency for legislative reform to adapt regulations to evolving conservation approaches. He suggests that "you cannot protect without sharing," advocating for reforms that would facilitate ecotourism development and involve local communities in income-generating partnerships.

While some forestry officials support legislative adaptation, others remain resistant, viewing changes as a potential threat to biodiversity. However, Mohamed Temimi, founder of the startup Tunisian Campers, argues that ecotourism and the promotion of forest products are key to alleviating local communities' precariousness.

The visit to El Feija Park occurred as part of an eight-month training programme in environmental journalism, involving collaboration between the PAGECTE Project of GIZ, the European Union in Tunisia, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Tunisian Media Support Programme (PAMT2), with support from Tunisian Campers.