Morocco - Country Profile

Show map

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Benefiting from various types of ecosystems, Morocco is home to species that have disappeared from other parts of the world, such as the Mediterranean monk seal, the bald ibis, and the argan tree. Arthropods dominate Morocco’s fauna and constitute 73% of inventoried species, but 40.5% of them are threatened. Other threatened species include the lion, the gazelle, the ostrich, and the mouflon. Regarding Morocco’s flora, 4500 plants are known to exist in the country and 1000 of them are endangered species. 3% of the forest cover is currently protected and the country has 24 Ramsar sites. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and tourism represent the basis of Morocco’s economic and social policy. The increase of human population, urbanization, inadequate agriculture practices, overfishing, transport, mass tourism, exotic species, and fires are some of the threats to the country’s biodiversity. (3rd National Report and NBSAP)

Forest ecosystems are composed of natural formations of leafy trees, (Holm, Oak, Cork, Tauzin Oak, Argani, Oleaster) and of coniferous trees (Cedar, Aleppo pine, Coastal Pine, Black pine, and Thuya) distributed among the different bioclimatic levels from semi-arid to humid. Oak plantations occupy the plains and foothills of mountains, while the cedar groves (Coastal Pine and Black Pine) are located in higher regions. The only Moroccan fir tree is found in the heights of Western Rif in the region of Chaouen. In the south, endemic argon trees are found in the semi-arid and arid zones and constitute, with the Acacia, the species most adapted to aridity.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

There are 10 National Parks (Toubkal, Tazekka, Sous Massa, Al Hoceima, Talassametane, Ifrane, Haut Atlas Oriental, Bas Draa, Dakhla and Khnéfisse) whose surface is of 2.649.560 of hectares. There is also a network of 160 sites of biologic and ecological interest (SIBE), created as a result of the Study of Protected Areas of Morocco, whose surface is of 1.080.000 of hectares.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The forests of Morocco (including the Alfa steppes) cover some 9 million hectares (9.077.195 ha), which represents about 8% of the national territory.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The strategy comprises five strategic objectives: (1) rational management and sustainable use of biological resources (in-situ and ex-situ conservation, participatory approach, monitoring, restoration, etc.); (2) improved knowledge on biodiversity (scientific research, training, information management, etc.); (3) awareness raising and education (awareness programmes adapted to the general public and students, training for future awareness raisers); (4) legislation and institutions (capacity building, harmonizing Morocco’s international engagements with its national legislations, etc.); and (5) international cooperation. Morocco’s action plan focuses on terrestrial biodiversity, marine and coastal biodiversity, and wetland biodiversity. In addition, the country has established a great number of indicators to assess Morocco’s progress, such as the variation of the degree of forest fragmentation.

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The preservation of genetic resources is one of the country’s priorities. The creation of seed and gene banks, the establishment of fishing restrictions, and the implementation of reforestation plans are some of the initiatives that are currently underway. Measures of in-situ and ex-situ conservation have been elaborated (the departments of agriculture and fisheries, among others, are said to be active in this area). Also, the country has established measures to restrain the introduction of alien species such as monitoring at entry points, and to manage invasive species such as monitoring the movements of the species inside the country (ex. the grasshopper). 160 sites of particular interest in regard to biological resources have been identified and some of them have been designated as protected areas. Furthermore, 20 sites have been identified as potential Ramsar sites. Regarding the decline of specific populations of species, Morocco has committed itself to various objectives related to the CBD work programmes.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Morocco has just created a new national park, Khnéfisse, whose surface is of 180.000 hectares and a new Biosphere reserve (MAB) between Morocco and Spain whose surface is of 1.000.000 ha. Also, 20 humid zones were registered on the Ramsar list. Created by decree in regions naturally attractive either biologically, scientifically, socially or in terms of tourism, national parks must be maintained in their initial and preserved state against all forms of negative effects. Thus, all sorts of operations susceptible of transforming or degrading the sites are forbidden. Hunting and fishing may be prohibited, in view of guaranteeing the preservation and, if possible, the reconstitution of the fauna. The Study of Protected Areas of Morocco was designed with the objective to elaborate a network regrouping all ecologically representative sites of zones with a high biodiversity index or with a high concentration of vegetables or animals, endemic, rare or endangered species, and identify the zones of priority action at the heart of this network. The study opted for an ecosystemic approach that offers several advantages in contrast to the specific approach. It permits the conservation of a maximum number of species living at the level of an ecosystem at the heart of which they find the optimal ecological conditions for their development. The protection of a certain species is achieved by protecting its entire ecosystem. The study led to the creation of a network of 160 sites of biologic and ecological interest (SIBE).

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The majority of conservation and sustainable use projects involve local communities and take traditional knowledge into consideration. When these communities are regrouped, in associations for example, they can fully realize the project themselves. Furthermore, workshops on Morocco’s biodiversity strategy have been organized for regional and local stakeholders

Rate this page - 65 people have rated this page