Morocco: Ghabati, Hayati Project – promoting the forestry sector

The project aims to raise awareness of nature conservation and gender equality in Morocco’s forestry sector

Morocco is encouraging sustainable production while preserving natural resources, said Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki in a parliament session on January 2.

The minister also highlighted adopting new measures to reduce climate change impacts and build resilient agriculture.

In support of Morocco’s national forest 2020–2030 strategy, the French Development Agency (AFD) is launching the first international cooperation program for forestry sector management in partnership with the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), and Expertise France (EF).

The new program aims to reforest 50,000 hectares of forest per year, promoting participatory management by local populations, and strengthening tools for preserving Morocco’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

In addition, the program focuses on deepening scientific research on forest governance, strengthening the fight against climate change, and reducing gender inequalities in Morocco’s forestry sector.

ANEF, AFD, and EF have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 100 million euros and a 3 million euro grant for the project.

In parallel to this agreement, Morocco and the FFEM are co-financing pilot projects in Ifrane’s National Park for 5.9 million euros and 1.8 million euros.

The pilot projects aim to preserve biodiversity and create employment related to outdoor sports.

Director of French Development Agency (AFD) in Morocco, Quiterie Pincent, told Morocco World News (MWN), “The program aims to reform forestry’s sector jobs, train and recruit local animators.”

Pincent also noted that training ANEF’s agents is necessary to raise awareness among inhabitants on forest management and nature conservation.

Morocco’s forest area covers more than 9 million hectares, with an overall afforestation rate of 8%. The Rif and Middle Atlas regions have the highest afforestation rate of 40% while the southern provinces have the lowest rate of 4%.

Statistics show that Morocco’s forestry sector represents 0.4% of the national GDP and 2% of the agricultural GDP. Moreover, it also contributes to timber’s needs and industry by 30%, employment creation, and national energy balance by 18%.

Since the 1990s, Morocco has developed an institutional and legal framework to face threats, including 30 legislative and regulatory texts, programs, and actions of governmental and civil society actors.

The country also plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a climate action plan to have full effect by 2030.

The program has facilitated several advances, including reforestation, financial support, and gender equality.

Pincent highlighted that despite the COVID-19 crisis and drought, 27,000 hectares of land were reforested in 2021, 188 pastoral associations were financially supported, and more than 7,000 improved ovens were distributed to women in the most vulnerable forest communities.

She also stressed that they will pursue forest management’s efforts by increasing sensitive wetlands’ protection.

Ghabati, Hayati highlights the strengthening of the strategic partnership between France and Morocco. The two countries are driving forces in the fight against global warming and declining biodiversity at an international level.

In an interview, Pincent told MWN that Morocco and France face comparable global warming threats. “Last summer, the two countries experienced dramatic forest fires needing a high-level dialogue and experiences sharing to find key solutions,” she noted.

While Morocco has made a progress in forest management, the sector has still posed major challenges, including a lack of community participation, insufficient coordination between actors, full gender integration, and climate change and natural disasters.