The National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water, and Forestry (INRGREF) is a leading Tunisian research institution specializing in the sustainable management of natural resources under water scarcity. Our expertise lies at the intersection of eco-hydrology, forest management, and climate change adaptation. We operate a network of long-term experimental sites and advanced laboratories dedicated to monitoring the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Mediterranean Silviculture, Eco-hydrology, Drought Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions.
Our Current Proposal:We are currently spearheading the SYMBIOCLIM project, which investigates “Climate Symbiosomes”—specifically the hydraulic facilitation between Quercus suber and leguminous shrubs. Using high-resolution ecophysiology , we aim to model how integrated plant associations can bypass drought-induced hydraulic failure.
Partnering Opportunities: Beyond our own proposals, INRGREF is seeking to join international consortia as a strategic partner. We offer:
Expertise: Advanced tree hydraulics, isotopic water tracing, and soil-microbiota-plant interactions.
Field Access: Diverse experimental plots across rainfall gradients (from sub-humid to arid bioclimates).
Technical Skills: Monitoring of water use efficiency, resilience scoring, and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for reforestation.
Regional Integration: Strong experience in North African ecosystem dynamics and stakeholder engagement in the WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem) Nexus.
