The availability of water resources is a recurring challenge in the Mediterranean as nearly 180 million people suffer from water shortages and live under water stress. Tunisia is one of the worst hit countries with a per capita availability estimated at 385 m3/year/ha against a global average of 1000m3. Groundwater resources in Tunisia are expected to drop by 50% by 2050 with the risk of losing 800,000 ha of non-irrigated woodland by 2030, especially in the midland and the south, Environment Minister Leila Chikhaoui said at the opening of the 5th Mediterranean Water Forum. Tunisia will also be facing a 30% decrease in the grain area by 2030 and a 30% risk of salinisation of groundwater by 2050, in addition to a decline in both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, she added. Chikhaoui said the smart management of water resources is part of the solution to adapt to global warming and could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the resilience of populations, protect biodiversity and guarantee food and energy security. "In its quest for inclusive and integrated sustainable development , Tunisia must overcome several challenges, icluding water management under the National Ecological Transition Strategy (French: SNTE)," she further said. "Measures advocated by this strategy include the implementation of effective water management policies, especially the mobilisation and protection of water resources, sea water desalination and mainstream wastewater recycling, in perfect synergy with the 2050 National Water Strategy," the minister added. In this respect, Chikhaoui said Axis 3 of the SNTE includes ten measures dedicated to the "sustainable management of resources and ecosystems," including the launch of a programme to save water and reduce losses, wastewater recycling, updating the agricultural map including sensitive areas to be protected and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroecology and agroforestry, all of which have a direct impact on the use of water in the agricultural sec tor. Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Abdelmonaam Belaati outlined the current context of climate change and its corollary effects (floods, increasingly severe droughts and forest fires). He also laid emphasis on the impact of this universal phenomenon on rainfall and therefore on water reserves in dams and groundwater, as well as on the quality of available resources (increased salinity due to non-renewal of water reserves). "This situation resulted in difficulty supplying various economic sectors with water, mainly agriculture, seriously compromising their productivity", he also said. The Minister shed light on Tunisia 2050 Plan which is designed to strengthen its water infrastructure by building new dams to store water in periods of abundance, secure demand governance and tackle losses and waste. Tunisia 2050 Plan also provides for the development of unconventional sources (desalination, water recycling), the adoption of integrated management methods and the integration of renewa ble energies as a means of reducing the carbon footprint and cutting production costs. The minister reiterated Tunisia's support and solidarity with "the Palestinian people, whose most fundamental rights, such as access to water and food, are being denied". "Our hearts are still and will always be with Palestine's children who are suffering from a huge lack of food, water and medicine and are homeless. Children should suffer, whatever their religion, nationality, language or ethnicity. Let us join efforts and show goodwill to impose peace and guarantee a decent life for all", he added. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse