Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region

<p>Integrating traditional irrigation knowledge with modern sustainable water management practices offers valuable solutions to water scarcity in arid regions. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant climate challenges, including low rainfall, rising temperatures, and...

وصف كامل

محفوظ في:
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Tarek Ben Hassen (15742605) (author)
مؤلفون آخرون: Hamid El Bilali (15864930) (author), Mohammad S. Allahyari (11995307) (author), Chedli Baya Chatti (21259472) (author)
منشور في: 2025
الموضوعات:
الوسوم: إضافة وسم
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author Tarek Ben Hassen (15742605)
author2 Hamid El Bilali (15864930)
Mohammad S. Allahyari (11995307)
Chedli Baya Chatti (21259472)
author2_role author
author
author
author_facet Tarek Ben Hassen (15742605)
Hamid El Bilali (15864930)
Mohammad S. Allahyari (11995307)
Chedli Baya Chatti (21259472)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Tarek Ben Hassen (15742605)
Hamid El Bilali (15864930)
Mohammad S. Allahyari (11995307)
Chedli Baya Chatti (21259472)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-08-27T15:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Traditional_irrigation_knowledge_for_sustainable_water_resource_management_in_arid_Environments_Insights_from_the_MENA_region/30135193
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Earth sciences
Climate change science
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Traditional irrigation
Indigenous knowledge
Water resource management
Arid environments
Climate adaptation
MENA
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p>Integrating traditional irrigation knowledge with modern sustainable water management practices offers valuable solutions to water scarcity in arid regions. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant climate challenges, including low rainfall, rising temperatures, and recurrent droughts. As sustainable agriculture requires harmony between humans and nature, managing scarce water resources is crucial for adapting to climate change and ensuring agricultural resilience in these arid environments. Communities in this region have historically addressed water scarcity by developing traditional and locally adapted irrigation techniques, such as Qanats and rainwater harvesting. These methods have been essential in conserving water resources and mitigating environmental stressors that impact agricultural productivity. This paper examines how traditional irrigation practices contribute to the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems and the preservation of fragile arid ecosystems in the face of climate uncertainties. The study provides: (i) an analysis of water scarcity issues and the effects of climate change on arid ecosystems in the MENA region, (ii) an exploration of traditional irrigation knowledge and technologies, emphasizing their role in water conservation and ecosystem health, and (iii) a discussion of socio-economic, institutional, and technological barriers to broader adoption of these practices. Case studies from various MENA countries illustrate how traditional practices enhance resilience and support conservation efforts. The paper highlights the importance of culturally appropriate strategies integrating human dimensions into ecosystem management, fostering sustainable and adaptive solutions for the region's challenges.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Journal of Arid Environments<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466</a></p>
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identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466
network_acronym_str Manara2
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30135193
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spelling Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA regionTarek Ben Hassen (15742605)Hamid El Bilali (15864930)Mohammad S. Allahyari (11995307)Chedli Baya Chatti (21259472)Earth sciencesClimate change scienceEnvironmental sciencesClimate change impacts and adaptationTraditional irrigationIndigenous knowledgeWater resource managementArid environmentsClimate adaptationMENA<p>Integrating traditional irrigation knowledge with modern sustainable water management practices offers valuable solutions to water scarcity in arid regions. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant climate challenges, including low rainfall, rising temperatures, and recurrent droughts. As sustainable agriculture requires harmony between humans and nature, managing scarce water resources is crucial for adapting to climate change and ensuring agricultural resilience in these arid environments. Communities in this region have historically addressed water scarcity by developing traditional and locally adapted irrigation techniques, such as Qanats and rainwater harvesting. These methods have been essential in conserving water resources and mitigating environmental stressors that impact agricultural productivity. This paper examines how traditional irrigation practices contribute to the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems and the preservation of fragile arid ecosystems in the face of climate uncertainties. The study provides: (i) an analysis of water scarcity issues and the effects of climate change on arid ecosystems in the MENA region, (ii) an exploration of traditional irrigation knowledge and technologies, emphasizing their role in water conservation and ecosystem health, and (iii) a discussion of socio-economic, institutional, and technological barriers to broader adoption of these practices. Case studies from various MENA countries illustrate how traditional practices enhance resilience and support conservation efforts. The paper highlights the importance of culturally appropriate strategies integrating human dimensions into ecosystem management, fostering sustainable and adaptive solutions for the region's challenges.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Journal of Arid Environments<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466</a></p>2025-08-27T15:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Traditional_irrigation_knowledge_for_sustainable_water_resource_management_in_arid_Environments_Insights_from_the_MENA_region/30135193CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/301351932025-08-27T15:00:00Z
spellingShingle Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
Tarek Ben Hassen (15742605)
Earth sciences
Climate change science
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Traditional irrigation
Indigenous knowledge
Water resource management
Arid environments
Climate adaptation
MENA
status_str publishedVersion
title Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
title_full Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
title_fullStr Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
title_full_unstemmed Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
title_short Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
title_sort Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region
topic Earth sciences
Climate change science
Environmental sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Traditional irrigation
Indigenous knowledge
Water resource management
Arid environments
Climate adaptation
MENA