Morocco Unveils Ambitious Plan to Reforest 600,000 Hectares by 2030

At the end of this meeting held last week, under the chairmanship of Minister Aziz Akhannouch and with the participation of the central directors of the Department of Water and Forests, it emerges that the said department has scheduled the reforestation of an area of 600,000 hectares, covering 12 regions of the country, at a rate of 50,000 hectares at the start of the program, reports L’Économiste.

This strategy focuses on the production of 460 million plants by 2030. Thus, to successfully carry out this program which stems from the development plans of the various Moroccan forests, consultations will be organized with the populations, considered as a major lever. Thus, "appropriate incentives are planned", added the supervisory authority. This program will focus on argan, cork oak, holm oak, thuya, cedar, carob, eucalyptus, pine and many other forest species, details the publication.

In addition, an ambitious program has been developed to professionalize and secure the seed and plant activity. Similarly, 4 laboratories of the seed stations will be modernized and certified with the support of the ONSSA. In parallel, development and upgrading works have been launched for the creation of a modern public nursery, at the level of the Maâmora forest (Rabat region), in order to make it a model at the African level.

It should be recalled that the launch of this program, submitted to the Sovereign last February, is part of the ongoing institutional reorganization. This reform will put an end to the High Commission for the advent of the Water and Forests Agency and that of the National Parks. Thus, a new model will be installed and will make it possible to ensure the mission of conservation and enhancement of forest ecosystems.