The Regeneration of Rural Space in Difficulty by the Family Multy-Activity. The Case of Mediterranean Mountainous Spaces of Toukabeur, Chaouech and Hidous (the Down-Valley of Mejerda-Tunisia)

Riahi HEDI1
1 Manouba University, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Humanities, Manouba, TUNISIA
E-mail: riahihedi@hotmail.fr
Pages: 9-18

Abstract. The mountainous spaces in the Mediterranean zone constitute, ever since ancient times, very populated locales. Human pressure and surrounding natural constraints are the main cause of the rupture of the fragile equilibrium of ecological systems and the movement of rural exodus towards the plains and local towns. The case of mountainous “déchras” in the north of the Down-valley in the north of Tunisia (Toukabeur, Chaouach and Hidous) offers a manifest example of the grave structural crisis which the Mediterranean mountains suffer at present. The disequilibrium of the relationship population - resources push the dwellers of the mountains to develop short and long term strategies of adaptation, carried out through a traditional management of the rural space. The poor outputs of the latter led to the emergence of a new tendency towards a restructuring of familial activities by giving a greater importance to multi-activity and extra-agricultural employment. This new tendency lies behind the socio-professional and special redeployment of the mountainous population. The case study of this space leads us to raise queries as to the future of the Mediterranean mountainous space, in the context of the state’s disengagement as well as giving an ampler chance to market mechanisms in the rural and local development.

K e y w o r d s: pressure, constraint, recession, multi-activity, strategy