Evaluating 20 years of land use change and degradation trends to inform ecosystem service modeling

The Medjerda Water Basin, often referred to as the Medjerda River Basin or Oued Medjerda Basin, is the most hydrologically important watershed in Tunisia and one of the longest and most significant river systems in North Africa. Originating in the mountainous regions of northeastern Algeria, the river flows eastward for approximately 450 km before entering Tunisia and discharging into the Gulf of Tunis. The basin covers an area of about 23,00024,000 km², of which roughly two-thirds lies within Tunisia. This transboundary watershed encompasses a wide range of landscapes, from the steep mountainous terrain along the Algerian border to the rolling hills and extensive alluvial plains of northern Tunisia. These physical characteristics, combined with relatively favorable climatic conditions, have long made the Medjerda Basin the agricultural heartland of Tunisia and a cornerstone of national food security and rural livelihoods.