Abstract:
The degradation of the environment in the high plains of the Algerian is presented, through Oum El Bouaghi region, has not been a continuous phenomenon and slow but it was manifested by jerks from the time Berber, Roman, colonial and up to now. This study is interesting to put the emphasis on the environmental problems in general and determine the nature and the mode of human interventions that modify the environment according to their need in a territory vulnerable and fragile. The main objective of this study is to identify the natural and anthropogenic causes of this degradation. It is a question of elaborating a detailed cartography of the change of environment starting from the study of occupation of grounds at different dates. Our study was based on recent techniques and methods that allow us to deepen our research and to create multi-temporal and spatial maps. The region of Oum El Bouaghi to undergoes changes in the characters of the space that has resulted in the degradation of its environment. The impact of the degradation of the physical environment in the region of Oum El Bouaghi is unfortunately serious and likely to be catastrophic. The highly active fluvial dynamics in El Klab Wadi, whose lateral erosion rate is estimated at 50 to 60.5 m for 55 years, favors the risk of flooding and the disappearance of the Sigus alluvial plain; the increase in the surface area of water bodies from 1001.13 km2 in 1985 to an area of 1810.39 km2 in 2014. The degradation of the vegetation cover is translated by the reduction of the surface of the forest from 1881, 24 km2 in 1985 to 1102, 84 km2 in 2014. The flood threatens all the cities of the region (Sigus, Oum El Bouaghi and Ain Kercha) as well as the regression of underground resources in the plain of Ouled Sellem and the change of their quality by the increase of salinity. All this changed the farming mode. The results of this research led to a better understanding of environmental degradation and its impact in the region.
