No. 43, Spring/Summer 1998 Ecotourism in Drylands By Mohamed
Ouessar and Habib Belhedi "ASNAPED's role in [this] project
provides one model of how NGOs might work to promote similar
projects in other drylands of the world." It is commonly
believed that all ancient civilizations of the world's dry
regions were nomadic. However, this is not true of the town of
Douiret, in the Matmata Mountains of Tunisia. In fact, the
historical evidence found in the old town shows that it was
first settled more than one thousand years ago. Douiret was
subsequently a focal point of one branch of Berber civilization.
The architectural remnants to be found there, as well as many
structures still in use, indicate that the town's historical
inhabitants had a very rich typical drylands civilization.
Douiret's location was in fact dictated by security and
environmental reasons. The Matmata mountains are found between
the Plain of Jeffera and the Mediterranean Sea on the east, and
the Sahara Desert on the west. The town and its depend