Tunisian women's quarter-century dedication nurtures nation's forests

In the nurseries of Borj Amri and Essadkia, near Manouba, Tunisia, a dedicated group of nine women has been the backbone of forest cultivation for over a quarter-century.

What began with twenty workers has evolved into a core team of nine women who rise each morning to perform the vital, often unnoticed, task of planting the forests of tomorrow. Fatma Lebben, 58, describes a relentless workday filled with preparing soil, sowing seeds, watering, and weeding. "This place has taught me patience," she shared, noting that her salary is now the primary income for her family since her husband's passing.

Soulef Hbibi, 51, considers the nursery her "second family." She works tirelessly, preparing the soil and undertaking physically demanding tasks, emphasizing that the line between male and female laborers blurs in their shared commitment and rigorous work. Souad Hamdi highlights the deep expertise gained over the years, an intuitive knowledge of plant needs, soil conditions, and temperature changes that surpasses textbook learning. For her, the most rewarding moment is "the harvest. When we see that months of work were not in vain."

Mohsen Trabelsi, head of the nurseries for the Manouba regional directorate of forests, lauded the women's indispensable role, confirming they handle 90% of the nursery's operations. He praised their precision in weeding and seed preparation, deeming their daily presence a key factor in producing healthy, resilient plants ready for deployment. Each seedling leaving the nursery carries the imprint of these nine women, who are described as the linchpins of Tunisia's forestation initiatives.

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Une expertise qui leur a permis de reconnaître ce dont chaque plant a besoin, d’anticiper les changements de sol et de température et de lire la terre avant qu’elle ne parle.