Water and forest management: the AfDB grants Morocco €84m

Faced with the drought that has been affecting Moroccan agriculture since 2020, the government is planning concrete responses to counter the cyclical repercussions and strengthen the country’s resilience. To support this strategy, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved funding of $84 million to improve the water cycle, mainly in rural areas.

The funds are being allocated under the Support Project for the Inclusive and Sustainable Development of Forest Areas. Through this initiative, the Moroccan government will invest in rehabilitating forest areas and restoring land degraded by erosion, mainly in the priority catchment areas of Ghiss, Bouregreg, Seksaoua and Sidi Abdallah.

Sustainable forest management

With regard to biodiversity, operations to promote sustainable forest management are planned in the Al-Hoceima, Souss Massa, Talassamtane and Toubkal national parks. The Moroccan government also wants to promote forest entrepreneurship among young people, by setting up incubation structures. Two business incubators have been identified in the north, in Tétouan, and in the south, in Souss Massa.

Young forestry entrepreneurs will be supported, including financially, to develop the eucalyptus, aromatic and medicinal plants and inland aquaculture sectors. Rabat is expected to invest €100 million to implement its project to support the inclusive and sustainable development of forest areas, as part of the “Forêts du Maroc 2020-2030” strategy, implemented by the Agence nationale des eaux et forêts (Anef).

Until 2028, the project should benefit around 6.5 million people living in rural areas in the regions of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, Marrakech-Safi, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima and Souss-Massa. According to the AfDB, the project will also support the emergence of a rural middle class through the sustainable management of natural resources.