M'Zab Valley

Owing to the socio-economic changes which have intervened in past decades, as well as to the demographic growth caused by industrial development of the region, the Valley and the Ksour of M’Zab are currently exposed to very intense pressure from development. This has entailed the deterioration of the natural environment (palm orchards and profile of the surrounding hills) and alteration to the urban fabric. 

In the absence of any ground plans, houses have been constructed with materials and of dimensions often incompatible with the local traditions, in the palm orchards, and often in flood areas.

Furthermore, the recent construction of industrial buildings on the heights of the surrounding hills is an additional factor causing the degradation of the overall natural environment. Under the supervision of the Office for the Protection and Promotion of the M’Zab Valley, under the responsibility of the Ministry for Communication and Culture, the 1997-2002 restoration programmes are being implemented for the restoration of the traditional houses of the Ksour of Ghardaia, Melika, El Atteuf, Bounura and Beni Isguen.

Following the request of the Algerian authorities for an expert mission, a UNESCO mission visited Algeria in September 2001 to assist the authorities concerned in the preparation of international assistance requests for the identification of appropriate urbanism criteria for the implementation of an integrated policy for the safeguarding of the M’Zab Valley, as well as the establishment of a workshop on the island of houses, at Ghardaïa. Two international assistance requests will shortly be submitted by the Algerian authorities.