The Moroccan Nature Conservancy is expanding its repertoire

Background

Morocco has currently 11 national parks distributed along the country’s biodiversity hotspots. In August 2010, the first law on protected areas was passed in Morocco. It forms the basis for differentiated protection measures and the establishment of appropriate structures.

The effects of climate change threaten the biological diversity of the country - even in protected areas. Increasingly frequent extreme weather conditions (dry and hot periods, occasional heavy rain with severe erosion episodes) represent a massive threat to local ecosystems, especially as they are already weakened by overuse and urban sprawl. 

The Approach

A project run by the Moroccan conservation authorities focuses on four main aspects:

(1) Conservation and protection of Biodiversity and particularly important species (2) Development of sustainable methods of use with the local population and creation of economic incentives to preserve the quality of the ecosystems (3) increase of knowledge about and on climate risk management of natural resources (4) integration of Ecology and nature conservation in the academic and extracurricular education and encouragement of related research. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit(GIZ) assists the conservation and environmental authorities in the implementation of the project.

Morocco has also recently begun to implement the so-called Nagoya Protocol, which contains guidelines on access to genetic resources and the equitable sharing of the resulting benefits. Through the implementation into national law, new opportunities in business sectors using natural resources emerge to make the rural poor benefit from the sustainable use of ecosystem services, which in turn will increase the acceptance of possible usage restrictions. Overall, the Moroccan government hopes for more positive effects to counter the consequences of climate change.

The Ministry of Environment coordinates the formulation of national policies and programs by sectorial ministries in charge of climate change and conservation of biodiversity. The Ministry is supported therewith by the local active GIZ projects.

An intensive exchange about all these practical and strategic approaches is maintained with neighboring countries. Within that exchange, the GIZ advisors and consultants are working together with partner institutions to find innovative solutions for the region.

The Impacts

For the practical work of the protected area administrations approaches and tools for new tasks emerging from risk management perspective have been developed. They allow identifying risks early, identifying the critical attenuation factors and key stakeholders and entering into negotiations for a joint conservation strategy. All this helps to avoid the main threats. Special emphasis was placed on a pragmatic, action-oriented approach. Already completed handouts are: (1) climatic risks for species and habitats, (2) climatic risks for ecosystem services and natural products, and (3) economic and social risks for women who live from natural products, and whose income and social status are under threat of climatic change effects.

In addition, a national strategy as well as innovative tourism offers in and around protected areas have been developed, which also contributes to the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystems and species.

All products, strategies and other procedures of the project were developed in cooperation with representatives of the conservancy management, government authorities, local authorities, local educational institutions and non-governmental organizations. In addition, the participants were able to attend relevant training courses.