Degradation of western Algerian steppes lands: Monitoring and assessment

The Algerian steppes are currently experiencing erosion of natural resources; the situation continues to grow and leads to an imbalance of local ecosystems. In this investigation, floristic surveys coupled with soil tests were carried out. The phytoecological study revealed a very strong degradation of the floristic richness and the phytomass with a predominance of the loamy-sand texture and a disturbance of the parameters studied from one site to another. The monitoring of ecological changes 60 years later shows a decrease in the number of species and families of 79 and 41% respectively with a disappearance of some facies that are replaced by other indicators of degradation with less forage value. This regressive dynamic is explained by two essential factors: land use changes and climatic aridity.