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The creation of national parks in Algeria began in 1921 by the French government, which established the first national park in the country. During the period from 1923 to 1929, thirteen national parks were created with the purpose of conserving nature and promoting local tourism. However, these efforts were interrupted during the two World Wars and the Algerian War of Liberation, leading to significant deterioration of our natural heritage (Meribai, 2011).
After gaining independence, it was necessary to address the severe state of degradation in which the national parks established during the colonial era were found. Finally, in July 1983, a decree was promulgated in Algeria that allowed for their reintroduction and re-creation (Kerbiche and AknineSouidi, 2022).
To address this situation, the Algerian government has recognized the need for urgent intervention through an effective policy that addresses all issues related to nature protection and environmental preservation. This has involved the creation of new national parks and other protected areas in the country.
Protected Areas and Total Surface Area
According to "The management of national parks in Algeria: Overview, means and constraints. Case of national parks in the North," published in the Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, Volume 60 / No. 60 (2023), pages 798-816, by authors Kerbiche Fatima and Prof. AknineSouidi Rosa, the total sum of the surface area of the 11 national parks in Algeria is 56,589,961 hectares. These parks are scattered throughout the country’s territory, with 8 of them located in the north, one in the steppe zone, and two in the far south. Each park has its own extension and date of creation, ranging from smaller areas to enormous parks, such as the Tassili National Park, which covers an area of 11,400,000 hectares, and the Ahaggar National Park, with an area of 45,000,000 hectares (Abdelguerfi, 2003a).
