In the reign of the
Hafsid dynasty, Lake Ichkuel was a reserve during the 13th century. It later became the property of the public domain in the early 20th century during
French rule. Since 1980, it has been a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because dams have sharply reduced the freshwater inflow to the lakes and
marshes, the
reedbeds,
sedges, and other fresh-water plant species have been replaced with salt-loving plants. These changes have produced a sharp reduction in the migratory bird populations, which depend on the mix of plants that used to exist. According to the UNESCO Website, the Tunisian government has undertaken some steps to retain
freshwater and reduce
salinity, and the lake was removed from UNESCO's list of World heritage in danger in 2006. However some reports from the
World Conservation Union suggest that the salinity has already become excessively high and the possibility for rehabilitation may be rapidly disappearing. ==Ichkeul National Park==