The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) and the Province of Jerada have recently sealed an agreement to create and develop the Chekhar Natural Park. This memorandum of understanding aims to enhance the natural heritage of the park while ensuring sustainable management of its resources for the benefit of local populations.
The project will take place in two phases. The first phase, already validated by the results of public surveys, concerns the official creation of the park. These surveys were conducted in accordance with the order of the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests. The second phase will focus on the development of the park, with the ambition of rehabilitating its ecosystems and promoting ecotourism through an inclusive approach, involving local stakeholders in a sustainable development dynamic.
This five-year program (2025-2030), with a budget of 80 million dirhams, will make Chekhar the first protected area to benefit from such development. The ANEF plans to extend this program to other protected areas, depending on the results of ongoing public surveys.
In parallel with this agreement, the ANEF has launched a reintroduction operation for threatened wildlife species at the Chekhar site. During an official ceremony, presided over by Abderrahim Houmy, Director General of the ANEF, and Mabrouk Tabet, Governor of the Province of Jerada, animals such as 20 Barbary sheep, 15 Cuvier’s gazelles, and 8 porcupines were released. This initiative symbolizes the commitment to restoring local biodiversity and marks a key step in the development of the network of protected areas in Morocco.