The Minister of the Environment, Habib Abid, announced that his department has finalized a draft legal text for the creation of the very first marine reserve in Tunisia. This will be established in the governorate of Monastir, precisely at the level of the Kuriat Islands, under the name of “Reserve of the Kuriat Islands”.
Speaking on the occasion of the Regional Environment Council held this Monday at the headquarters of the governorate of Monastir, the Minister told the Tunis Afrique Press agency (TAP) that this project is part of a broader vision aimed at developing an environmental code. This unified code will bring together all the legal texts relating to environmental protection, currently scattered, for better consistency and efficiency.
Abid stressed that international experiences diverge in this area: some countries have implemented environmental web platforms, others have opted for dedicated journals or codes. Tunisia has chosen to launch several sectoral laws, four or five, starting with a overhaul of the decree governing the coast. A new text should be published soon to regularize the situation of the facilities currently occupying the beaches.
The Minister also pleaded for a reduction in procedures related to environmental impact studies, in particular for young entrepreneurs and citizen societies. It proposes to use standardized, less expensive and more accessible specifications to standardized specifications, while guaranteeing compliance with environmental standards.
Finally, in another important announcement, he indicated that the minimum quantity of waste to be treated to benefit from a valuation approval will go from 20 to 50 tonnes. This measure aims to encourage a greater number of investors to embark on waste enhancement, facilitating their access to the market and widening the field of eligible projects.
