Morocco Environmentalists Slam Invasive Palm Species, Call for Native Tree Preservation

"We have proceeded to uproot local tree species" to replace them "with American varieties such as Washingtonia or the ’beldi’ palm in streets and public squares," fumes "Maroc environnement 2050" in a new protest campaign. As a result, Casablanca has "become the arboretum of the Californian palm despite the difficulties of its adaptation on the Atlantic coast, such as the Ain Diab corniche, but also in Rabat, Larache, Kenitra, Fez and Meknes," the movement says. This is something it deplores, as the different regions of the kingdom have, say the environmental activists, "their environmental identity" that must be preserved, "like the argan in the Souss Massa region" and "the conifers in the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region".

"The issue of reforestation is vital long before we start talking about climate change. You should know that 80% of the Moroccan soil is dry or semi-dry and only 20% of the soil is humid," says "Maroc environnement 2050", before highlighting the functions of the tree. "The tree fulfills functions that the palm cannot assume, such as providing shade in the city, during heat waves and drought, as well as ecological services, such as the absorption of carbon dioxide, the production of oxygen and the preservation of biodiversity, etc.," it adds.

This is not the first time that "Maroc environnement 2050" has gone on a crusade against the random planting of palms outside oasis areas. In September 2022, an online petition had been launched to call on "the relevant ministerial departments" to intervene "to stop" this type of planting, reports the Arabic-language daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. The movement suggests replacing these palms "with trees adapted to each regional environment (along the boulevards) according to a sustainable visual scheme".