La protección de la agricultura periurbana mediante la zonificación de determinados suelos como no urbanizables por los instrumentos de planificación urbanística y territorial resulta insuficiente frente a las fuertes presiones de usos residenciales, industriales, infraestructurales y, en ocasiones, turísticos que provocan su fragilidad. En este texto se aborda la potencialidad del paisaje para activar este tipo de agricultura que se desenvuelve bajo influencia urbana directa y se adopta el Landscape Character Assessment como metodología sistemática de identificación y caracterización de los paisajes de la agricultura periurbana del Gran Sousse, la principal aglomeración urbana y turística del Sahel tunecino, con objeto de su evaluación, ordenación y promoción. Se adopta la noción de carácter del paisaje y se relaciona con las políticas públicas de gestión de los espacios agrarios periurbanos tunecinos y la percepción social, mediante entrevistas a una muestra de actores locales y regionales. Se analiza la diversidad paisajística concretada en Áreas Paisajísticas de Agricultura Periurbana (APAP), caracterizadas a partir de su particular fisonomía, y de los principales elementos y funcionamiento pasado y presente. El estudio concluye con la propuesta de un proyecto de paisaje como infraestructura verde, que implica un modelo de gestión de conflictos de acuerdo con las necesidades propias del paisaje, de los agricultores y de la población que lo percibe y lo utiliza como espacio abierto, fortaleciendo su función de productor de alimentos de calidad y de proximidad, como un ejercicio de participación y gobernanza territorial.

Peri-urban agrifood systems are often subject to urban pressure and other territorial factors, which justifies a detailed study and analysis from multiple points of view. The main objective of this work is to analyze the periurban agri-food systems of the urban agglomeration of Sousse (Tunisia), one of the most important in the country, from a landscape perspective. This work adds to the literature on policies and strategies for the planning and development of Tunisian cities, which are currently facing several environmental and social challenges, of which climate change, food security and sustainable development are the most important. This research focuses, as mentioned above, on the case of the urban agglomeration of Sousse (Tunisia), where the concurrence of different factors (political, environmental, economic, etc.), together with clearly deficient regulations and uncontrolled urban development, is threatening the survival of a traditional, largely family-based agricultural model, based on a mixed or polyculture production system, with olive groves predominating. The latter is vital to ensure the economic maintenance of many families and to actively contribute to food security, with the consequent production of varied, fresh, and quality food. In this sense, we present a specific method that, based on the integrative and strategic significance of landscapes, and on the Landscape Character Assessment methodology, employs the so-called “landscape project” as a tool to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of peri-urban agriculture and to prevent the loss of a landscape heritage that has always been considered crucial for the identity of the local population. The document highlights the importance of the concept of green infrastructure, which, when properly integrated into land-use planning instruments, can contribute to enhancing local and sustainable agri-food systems. It also points out the need to promote Agricultural Parks, a protected status already recognized in Spain and other countries, as instruments for management, promotion, and development, and puts forward some specific proposals for the enhancement and activation of peri-urban agricultural landscapes in the Sousse conurbation. In relation to this last aspect, it insists on the need to modify the current forms of governance, which would require greater leadership and involvement of the main actors in peri-urban agriculture.

An important part of the landscape of irrigated areas in Tunisia is the result of morphology, organization and operation of agricultural policies implemented since independence, aimed at optimizing the exploitation of the best soils and natural resources, particularly water and productive crop intensification. The sustainability of the landscape of public irrigated areas has a strong bonding with the resources of irrigation water and their states of management. The scarcity of irrigation water due to drought generates profound changes in many public irrigated areas as Chott-Mariem and Mornag, like standpoint operating (decrease of production) and land occupation (transformation of agricultural land to urban land). An investigation was carried out with farmers, leaders and policy makers, which the result was a range of measures and recommendations to promote sustainability of agricultural landscape.

LLas aguas residuales tratadas eran recursos y su uso en los países áridos y semiáridos es una pregunta de nivel internacional. El artículo aborda el proceso de gestión integrada “aguas residuales tratadas/agricultura periurbana” en Túnez, y sus conflictos ambientales y sociales. La investigación se basa en la combinación del método de evaluación del paisaje, Landscape Character Assessment (LCA), y las entrevistas realizadas con los agricultores de la zona de riego público (ZRP) de Zaouia, lo que permite la caracterización de los paisajes del ámbito de estudio y explicar la percepción de los agricultores, especialmente, sobre el uso de las aguas residuales tratadas y su interacción con otros actores del territorio. Los resultados será una herramienta de toma de la decisión y desarrollar el compromiso entre las aguas residuales tratadas y la agricultura periurbana.

Efficient fruit production, quality improvement, and timely harvesting are essential in olive cultivation, which requires optimised distribution and management of fruiting sites. This study aimed to support sustainable olive crop management by analysing the morphological characteristics of five cultivars (Chemlali, Chetoui, Koroneiki, Meski, and Picholine) under semi-arid Tunisian conditions. Through a detailed architectural analysis, we investigated the relationships between branching patterns, density, distribution of inflorescence and fruit sites, biometric traits (shoot length, internode number, and shoot dimensions), and geometric variability within each cultivar. Three trees per cultivar were analysed across three architectural units. The results showed marked architectural differences, highlighting the need for cultivar-specific strategies in planting, pruning, and orchard management. The distribution of shoots across botanical orders revealed unique branching patterns: Chemlali and Koroneiki showed thinner shoots and higher shoot density, reflecting strong apical dominance and their suitability for hyper-intensive systems. In addition, nonsignificant differences in long shoots’ insertion angles between Meski, Chetoui, and Koroneiki suggest compatibility for co-cultivation, facilitating mechanised maintenance and harvesting. Emphasis on inter-cultivar compatibility and architectural coherence is crucial for orchard design. These findings provide important insights for optimising orchard management practices to improve productivity, fruit quality, and operational efficiency.

Introduction: This study investigates the evolution and transformation of vineyard landscapes in the Boukornine region of Tunisia, located near Boukornine National Park. The region exemplifies the growing tension between ecological sustainability, landscape heritage, and socio-economic development in Mediterranean viticultural systems. Increasing urbanization, climate variability, and the modernization of farming practices are reshaping these traditional landscapes.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining spatial analysis, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, and participatory governance models. The research was conducted within the framework of the OENOMED project, which promotes sustainable and inclusive development strategies in Mediterranean viticulture.Results: Findings reveal a marked shift from traditional, biodiversity-rich vineyard systems to more intensive, mechanized models. This shift has contributed to landscape homogenization and a decline in ecological functionality. Nonetheless, the vicinity of Boukornine National Park provides critical ecosystem services—such as microclimate regulation and biodiversity support—that buffer vineyards against environmental stressors.Discussion: The study emphasizes the need for sustainable transitions in vineyard management through the adoption of organic farming practices, efficient irrigation systems, and the valorization of local terroirs. It also underscores the value of participatory planning tools in fostering adaptive governance. The integration of ecological, cultural, and territorial dimensions is essential for building resilient vineyard landscapes in Mediterranean regions undergoing rapid environmental and urban transformation.