Abstract
Thisstudy addressesthe conservation issues ofthe hydrophytic vegetation of Garâa Sejenane,the largest natural freshwater wetland in Tunisia.Fifty-five phytosociological relevés revealthe exceptional floristic wealth, including74 hydrophytes ofwhich26are patrimonialspecies.Multivariate analyses(CA, AHC) differentiatethree types of habitats: floodedcrops, temporary marshes, and wet lawns/temporary pools. Their mapping showsconcentric zones, includinganexternal beltof wet lawns, temporary pools and dry fodder meadows, an intermediate belt of temporary marshes and wet foddermeadows,and a central area offlood crops. A high Species Rarity Index and the occurrence of several species with high conservationvalues(1 strictly endemic species to the Garâa Sejenane, 5 others that exist in Tunisia only in this site,and 2 species whoselocal populations are thelargestin NorthAfrica) confirm the major ecological and conservatory interest of the site, despite anthropogenic pressures on the Garâa Sejenane since the sixties. In the present-day context of increasing human pressure, the long-term conservation of this exceptional biodiversity needsthe implementation of targetedmanagement measures integrating local populations