The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) held a meeting on Thursday in Rabat for the Technical Commission on Protected Areas (CTAP), dedicated to the development of the national network of national parks and protected areas.
Bringing together representatives from various ministries, partner institutions, experts, and stakeholders committed to biodiversity protection, this meeting falls within the framework of implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls on countries to protect at least 30% of their terrestrial and marine spaces by 2030, restore degraded ecosystems, and promote participatory and equitable governance of natural resources, as stated by ANEF in a press release.
On this occasion, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to fully contribute to these objectives, the same source adds.
“The Morocco Forest Strategy 2020-2030, launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, places biodiversity at the heart of public action. It aims to establish a coherent and resilient network of protected areas and national parks, capable of preserving our natural heritage, supporting sustainable development of territories, and creating economic opportunities for local communities,” emphasized the Director General of ANEF, Abderrahim Houmy, as quoted in the statement.
He further added: “The success of our projects also depends on the sustained mobilization of the scientific community, technical and financial partners, and ongoing dialogue with the territories. International cooperation programs play an essential role in supporting our efforts in sustainable management, ecosystem restoration, and enhancing ecological services.”
The CTAP meeting featured the presentation of the project to create the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab National Park, a key initiative for the conservation of Saharan ecosystems and the socio-economic development of the region. This project aims to reconcile the protection of natural environments, responsible ecotourism, and sustainable opportunities for local populations, the statement notes.
The meeting also focused on reviewing the Management and Development Plans (PAG) for six national parks: Ifrane, Toubkal, Tazekka, Khénifra, Eastern High Atlas, and Talassemtane. These plans are strategic tools for the next ten years for biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism enhancement, pressure and risk prevention, and sustainable governance of these exceptional natural territories.
In line with best international practices, these plans were developed through a participatory approach involving local authorities, cooperatives, local associations, decentralized services, and institutional partners.
ANEF also reminded that several park and protected area management projects benefit from funding and technical support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD), and other bilateral and multilateral partners committed to supporting Morocco.
In concluding the proceedings, the Agency reaffirmed its desire to continue developing a modern, representative, and connected national network of protected areas, in support of the national strategy and the Kingdom’s international commitments on biodiversity.
Morocco has made significant progress in recent years, with the creation of 8 new protected areas by 2025, increasing their number from 10 to 18 and expanding their area from 772,000 hectares to 1,278,617 hectares, as well as updating the Master Plan for Protected Areas (PDAP), with the extension of the national network of Sites of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE), which grew from 154 to 197 sites, now covering more than 7.6 million hectares.
These advancements enhance the representativeness of all Moroccan ecosystems—Saharan, forest, coastal, steppic, and wetland—and improve their ecological connectivity, an essential condition for habitat resilience against climate and anthropogenic pressures.
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