Its official mission is to study Algeria’s arid and semi-arid regions — especially Sahara and steppe environments — through multidisciplinary scientific research. The center was created in 1991 and is headquartered in Biskra.
Main areas of work include:
Desertification and drought monitoring
Water resources and oasis ecosystems
Agriculture in arid climates
Environmental and climate change studies
Biodiversity and natural resources management
Sustainable development of Saharan regions
Scientific databases and ecological monitoring for arid territories
The organization covers more than 85% of Algeria’s territory because most of the country lies in arid or semi-arid zones. Its role is therefore strategic for:
food security,
water management,
adaptation to climate change,
and sustainable Saharan development.
Structurally, CRSTRA combines:
research divisions and laboratories,
field observation activities,
scientific publications,
partnerships with universities and other research institutions,
and applied projects linked to local development in southern Algeria.
Official website: https://www.crstra.dz/en/
Seeking multidisciplinary Mediterranean partners for collaborative research on climate resilience, sustainable water management, and ecosystem restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. The proposed collaboration focuses on drought assessment, sustainable water allocation, restoration of degraded steppe ecosystems, climate risk management, and the integration of remote sensing and GIS tools for environmental monitoring. The partnership also aims to promote nature-based solutions and traditional water management practices adapted to Mediterranean drylands within the WEFE Nexus framework.
Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions (CRSTRA) has strong expertise in environmental and climate research in Saharan and steppe regions of Algeria. The institution is interested in developing long-term international partnerships under PRIMA through interdisciplinary research, pilot projects, and knowledge exchange activities supporting sustainable Mediterranean development.
