The latest annual report from the Court of Auditors highlights serious dysfunctions in the management of reforestation programs carried out by the National Agency for Water and Forests. At stake: tens of millions of forest plants produced with public funds but never used, with an estimated cost exceeding 92 million dirhams.
Presented this week before both Chambers of Parliament by the Court’s first president, Zineb El Adaoui, the report reveals that 43.74 million forest plants, although produced and funded by the state, were never planted. This unnecessary production alone accounts for 22% of the total volume of plants produced between 2014 and 2023, at a total cost of 389.8 million dirhams.
### An Ambitious Strategy, A Flawed Execution
These irregularities arise as Morocco has set an ambitious goal through the “Forests of Morocco” strategy, aiming to reforest 600,000 hectares by 2030—significantly higher than the previous average annual rate of no more than 30,000 hectares.
However, according to the Court of Auditors, this acceleration has occurred without adequate clarification of the objectives. The report notes the lack of a clear distinction between reforestation for protective, productive, or recreational purposes and a failure to distribute areas according to these aims.
Between 2022 and 2024, the areas actually reforested reached only 57,546 hectares, against a target of 139,860 hectares, resulting in a realization rate limited to 41%. This figure also includes areas rescheduled after earlier planting failures, further diminishing the actual impact of the efforts made.
### Plants Produced… But Left Abandoned
The persistent gap between planned areas and the surfaces actually reforested largely explains the accumulation of unused plants in nurseries. During the 2021-2023 period, nearly 19.23 million plants, or 37% of the production, remained in storage, with costs approaching 50 million dirhams.
The Court identifies several causes: cancellation of planting contracts, local opposition to certain reforestation projects, and delays due to climatic conditions, notably drought episodes. In this regard, nearly 33,000 hectares scheduled between 2014 and 2024 have been blocked due to local resistance.
### Clear Accountability
For the judges of the Court, the responsibility of the National Agency for Water and Forests is engaged. The report criticizes the absence of effective risk management mechanisms, as well as the lack of procedures to reallocate or utilize surplus plants before their deterioration.
Worse still, many plants stored for long periods become unsuitable for planting due to root imbalances, diseases, or inadequate storage conditions. After two years in a nursery, their ability to thrive in natural environments is severely compromised.
### Concerning Failure Rates
Another alarming signal is the low success rate of planting operations. For the 2022-2023 season, the Court reports a success rate of only 51%, with fewer than 10,000 hectares effectively reforested out of nearly 19,500 hectares planted.
This situation undermines the achievement of future objectives, even as the annual demand for forest plants is projected to rise from 40 million between 2022 and 2025 to 75 million per year by 2030.
### Underutilized Production Capacities
Among the 62 forest nurseries operated by the Agency, only 26 are actually functional. Their effective capacity is limited to 36.45 million plants, well below projected needs. The report points to outdated equipment, difficulties in accessing irrigation water, lack of innovation, and low adoption of modern technologies.
The opening to the private sector has also not yielded the expected results. Due to insufficient regulatory and technical oversight, the private production of certified plants remains uneven, jeopardizing the quality of reforestation operations.
### An Inadequate Contractual Framework
Since 2021, the Agency has replaced annual contracts with three-year framework contracts to secure private production. However, for the Court of Auditors, monitoring mechanisms remain insufficient. The use of specifications derived from public works is considered inappropriate for the biological and sensitive nature of forest production.
In conclusion, the Court believes that the current framework does not allow for rigorous oversight of the various phases of plant production, particularly concerning quality control, input monitoring, and management of non-conformities.
A stark assessment that raises questions about the true governance of the national forestry strategy, at a time when restoring forest cover is a declared environmental and climatic priority.